COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU women's basketball returned to action on Saturday, hosting (RV) Milligan University (Tenn.) for a home matchup. Despite a strong second-half effort, the Rams couldn't close the gap, falling 103-63.

Game Recap: The Rams started strong, taking a 4-0 lead with back-to-back layups from Zhani Thompson, but Milligan responded quickly to take the lead at 6-4 (7:23). A jumper from Katlynn Chinn tied the game at 12-12 (3:41), but the Buffalos gained momentum and pulled ahead. By the end of the first quarter, CIU trailed by eight, and the deficit grew in the second period. The Rams managed just 11 points in the second frame, six of which came from Thompson, as Milligan surged ahead to a 50-26 halftime advantage.

The Rams found their rhythm offensively in the third quarter, putting up 21 points. Bethany Rymer and Magdalena Mihaljevic sparked the effort off the bench with five points each. However, Milligan kept pace, extending their lead to 77-47 entering the fourth quarter. Thompson and Mariah Leinbach opened the final frame with back-to-back scores, but the Rams added just 16 points in the period, falling 103-63.

Thompson led CIU with a notable performance, tallying 16 points and nine rebounds. Rymer also reached double figures with 14 points, while Irene Were and Jessica North anchored the defense with eight rebounds apiece. 

Up Next: The Rams head to Athens, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 20, to take on Tennessee Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m. EST.