LADY SENATORS DEFEAT COLUMBIA FOR REGION CHAMPIONSHIP

The Walters State women's basketball team claimed another TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament Championship on Tuesday afternoon as tey defeated Columbia State 85-42.  The win secures the Lady Senators in the NJCAA Dvision I Women's Basketball Championship which is scheduled to start on March 24 at McNeese State University in St. Charles (LA).

Walters never trailed in the contest as they jumped out to a double digit lead in the first five minutes of the game.  T would lead 20-7 at the end of the first quarter before exploding in the second quarter to lead 50-15 at the end of the first half.  The second half was played much closer, but Waalters still outscored Columbia 35-26 in the last 20 minutes to claim the victory.  Columbia State would end the season with a 16-13 overall record.

Walters would connect on 30 of 76 (39.5%) shots from the field which included 2 of 16 from 3-point range (12.5%).  They would make good on 23 of 34 shots from the free throw ((67.6%).  Columbia would hit 16 of 54 (29.6%) of their sshots from the field including 6 of 18 (33.3%) from beyond the 3-point line.  They hit 4 of 7 shots from the free throw line (57.1%).  Walters would outrebound Columbia 54 to 38 in the contest.

Walters had three players reach double figures led by Terryauna Griffin with 25 points.  Nyjah Gibbs would follow 16 points and Malon Smith would contribute 13 in the win.  Gibbs, Reagan Starks, and Tierra Coleman led the way with nine rebounds each while Griffin claimed eight boards.  Smith passed out seven assists with Maliah Wilcox complimenting her with three assists of her own.  Griffin and Anaya Mulholland-Natt each had four steals in the game with Gibbs collecting two of her own.  Griffin also led the team with four blocks in the contest.

For Columbia, they were led by Lily Melton with 14 points and Kelsey Keiler with 11 in the game.  Keiler would pull down nine rebounds to lead her squad while Niana Hill finished with seven boards.  Melton, Hill, and Malaya Woullard each had two assists in the game.  Hill, Melton, Tennley Dowty, and Shunta Cason each finished with one steal.  Caston had four blocks in the game.

Walters will leanr of their national seeding on March 16 at 5pm EDT on the NJCAA Network.

COLUMBIA STATE - TCCAA/NJCAA REGION VII TOURNAMENT RUNNERUP

TCCAA/NJCAA REGION VII ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM