Johnson Rallies to Edge Lady Koalas

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Columbia College women's basketball team fell 72-61 on the road at AAC foe Johnson University Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.

Columbia was paced by junior shooting guard Anaya Muhammad with 19 points and four threes and sophomore point guard Makiah Thompson with 16 points. Muhammad added 4 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and two blocks while Thompson had 5 rebounds, 2 assists and three steals.

A low-scoring first quarter saw JU lead 16-12 before the Koalas outscored the Royals 19-12 in the second quarter to take a 31-28 halftime lead. Johnson then took the lead back in the third quarter with a 19-13 run to then lead 47-44 going into the fourth.

Columbia then got to within two points at 54-52 on a Muhammad three with 6:20 to play forcing a Johnson timeout. The Koalas would still trail by two at 56-54 with 4:30 to play before getting to within one point at 59-58 with 3:15 to go. However, Johnson would then go on a game-ending 13-3 run to clinch the win.

CC shot just 28.5 percent from three and 28 percent overall while JU wasn't much better shooting 32 percent and only 26 percent from three. The difference in the game came at the free-throw line where JU made ten more free throws than the Koalas (23-13) while Columbia was whistled for 7 more fouls as well.

Junior guard Tysonia Lowe also posted 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal off the bench while senior shooting guard Tameah Gaddis also scored 7 points with 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a block off the bench as well. Freshman Forward Natalie Pitts also added 4 points and 5 rebounds with 2 steals and a block but struggled shooting on the day.

Columbia falls to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference while JU improves to 3-4 and is also 2-1 in the AAC. Both teams are now tied for 5th in the league.

The Koalas next head back to Columbia to face CIU on the road in their crosstown rivalry on Tuesday evening at 5:30 pm.