Lady Koalas Rally in 4th to Knock off TWU

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College women's basketball team rallied from a third quarter deficit to dominate Tennessee Wesleyan in the fourth quarter to go on for the 8-point win, 65-57 from Columbia Saturday afternoon.

The win improves the Koalas to 11-1 on the season, while remaining unbeaten at home, and 6-1 in the AAC to keep them in a tie for first place and continue their best start to a season in school history. One more win will tie the Koalas with last year's team that won 12 games and would be the most wins in a season in at least 20 years.

CC was led by 15 ppints from senior shooting guard Keyshuna Fair as she shot 3 of 7 from behind the arc while adding 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Sophomore point guard Tysonia "Sunshine" Lowe also added 12 points with 4 rebounds and a steal as she helped ignite the comeback in the fourth quarter with her clutch shooting and passing. Junior guard Makayla Street then added 12 points off the bench along with a team-best 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal while fellow guard Kindan Dawson chipped 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists off the bench as well.

A competitive first quarter saw TWU take a slim 15-14 lead before the Koalas outscored the Bulldogs 17-8 in the second to take a 31-23 halftime edge. However, the Lady Dogs came out firing in the third quarter going on a 12-0 run to take a 35-31 lead with 6:30 to play in the quarter. TWU then kept up the pressure to outscore the Koalas 25-9 in the quarter and take a 48-40 lead into the fourth.

But in the fourth, the Koalas and whoopdirt.com Coach of the Week JJ Green would not be denied as the team began a 19-0 run at the 7:30 mark, after trailing 50-40, to then suddenly take a 59-50 lead with 1:30 to play. TWU would then crawl to within four points with 40 seconds to play but it would not be enough as the Koalas closed out the Bulldogs for their 11th win. Senior forward Tamyra Davis came up clutch for the Koalas in the fourth as well knocking down a big three-pointer and grabbing two big boards as she finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds and an assist. Junior PG Layla Wall also added 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in the win.

CC shot 39 percent overall for the game but only 28.5 percent from three while out-rebounding TWU 49-37. Columbia held TN Wesleyan to only 32 percent shooting overall and only 15 percent from three (5 of 33). 

Columbia remains home to host Spartanburg Methodist College on Tuesday evening at 5:30 pm.