CLEVELAND, Ga. (Feb. 20, 2021) – The No. 8-seeded Truett McConnell University women's basketball team defeated No. 9-seeded Columbia College 62-55 inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena on Saturday afternoon, which clinched their trip the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament in Kingsport, Tennessee.
 
The win put TMU back at .500 on the year (13-13, 9-13 AAC), while the Fighting Koalas fell to 8-11, 8-11 AAC. The Lady Bears will now face No. 1-seeded Bryan College on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 12:00 p.m.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY | THE COMEBACK
After an even first quarter (12-12), the Lady Bears fell behind by 15 points in the second after Columbia shot 47.06% from the field and 66.67% from the 3-point line for 10 minutes before halftime (17-32). TMU, however, came out to dominate the second half.
 
The Lady Bears got back within as little as four points (37-41) in the third, but it was a Re'Tavia Floyd 3-pointer that gave TMU the lead for good with two minutes left in regulation (54-53). TMU, in fact, closed out the final two minutes on a dominating 11-2 run to fasten the AAC play-in game win (62-55). Overall, the Lady Bears outscored the Fighting Koalas 45-23 throughout the second half.
 
LEADERS
Senior Sierra Kendall led the way with a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds, while also tallying four blocks and two steals. Floyd followed with 15 points and four steals, while junior Sydney Rumble added nine points. Junior Quan Holton led with seven assists and added three steals, while freshman Sydnie Smith followed with six assists.
 
UP NEXT
TMU's set to face the three-time AAC regular season champions, No. 1 Bryan College, at 12:00 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb 24, in Kingsport, Tennessee.