Thompson's Overtime Buzzer-Beater Sends Lady Koalas to Big Win

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Columbia College women's basketball team used a Makiah Thompson overtime buzzer-beater to knock off rival SMC 77-76 on the road in Spartanburg Wednesday evening.

The women put four Koalas in double-figure scoring on the night led by a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds from AAC Player of the Week, forward De'Asia Feaster. Thompson, a redshirt freshman, scored the winning layup with one second remaining as CC trailed 76-75. She went on to finish with 12 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, a steal and a block on the night.

Junior guard Anaya Muhammad also tallied 14 points with 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal on 5 of 7 shooting. Junior forward Taylor Boddie scored 10 points off the bench with 7 boards while junior guard Tysonia Lowe added 9 points, 4 rebounds, and two assists off the bench as well.

A low-scoring first quarter saw SMC jump out to a 12-6 lead before CC found their offense in the 2nd quarter outscoring the Pioneers 22-16 as the teams were tied at 28 at the break. SMC then built their biggest lead of the game in the 3rd quarter going up 49-40 with 2:15 to play. However, the Koalas would end the quarter on a 7-0 run to trail by just two heading into the fourth.

Columbia would continue their big run going up 58-52 with 6 minutes to play as they completed their game-changing 11-3 run to start the fourth and 18-3 run over two quarters. The teams would then go to overtime tied at 64 apiece. Thompson's 3 then gave CC a 71-68 lead with under three minutes to play before Columbia's biggest lead of overtime was at 74-70 with a minute to play. A 6-1 run then gave SMC the one-point lead before Thompson's heroics at the buzzer.

CC shot 43% overall and 28.5% from three while SMC shot 36.5% from the floor and only 17 percent from three. Free throws from SMC kept them in the game late.

Columbia improves to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the AAC while SMC falls to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference.

The Koalas next stay on the road to face Bluefield University (Va.) on Saturday at 12 Noon.