Lady Koalas Rally to Knock Off Bluefield in OT Thriller

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College Lady Koala basketball team won an overtime thriller Saturday afternoon on Homecoming to defeat visiting AAC foe Bluefield University (Va.) 78-75.

An exciting back-and-forth game featured six ties and 7 lead changes and featured 45 minutes of basketball and 5 periods to decide a winner. Columbia's largest lead of the game was thirteen points at 33-20 early in the second quarter, but only briefly as the scrappy Rams refused to go away ending the first half on a 16-4 run.

A 37-36 CC halftime lead saw the Koalas extend it to six at 59-53 heading into the fourth. Bluefield then shut down the cold-shooting Koalas in the fourth outscoring them 15-9 to force overtime. Columbia then controlled overtime as they used a 10-7 period to lead 78-75 including scoring the final four points of the game after trailing by one. However, a clutch block at the buzzer from junior guard Layla Wall then iced the game to secure the win for the Koalas.

The Koalas' victory after a two-game skid saw them improve to 16-7 on the season and 9-7 in the conference while dropping Bluefield to 2-18 in 2-14 in AAC play.

Columbia put three women in double-figures on the day led by 22 points from senior forward Tamyra Davis while sophomore guards Tysonia Lowe and Kindan Dawson had combined for 27 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals along with a block and four 3-pointers from Dawson.

Junior guard Layla Wall also had 3 rebounds and led in steals with three. De'Asia Feaster also played well defensively with 6 rebounds and 2 steals along with 4 points.

Davis had a terrific all-around night as well as she also racked up 7 rebounds and 2 steals while shooting 9 of 10 from the free throw line. Columbia shot 40% overall, but struggled from three shooting just 21 percent with a 66.7 percentage from the charity stripe. Bluefield shot nearly 42 percent overall and 18.8 percent from three and shot 78.6 from the line.

The Koalas are back on the road with a conference matchup against St. Andrews University in Laurinburg on Wednesday night for a 5:30 pm tipoff.