12th-ranked Lady Senators hold on for 72-66 win over Columbia State 

COLUMBIA, TN – A short-handed 12th-ranked Walters State women's basketball team made clutch baskets down the stretch on Saturday against Columbia State, holding off the Chargers for a 72-66 win.

With the victory, the Lady Senators improved to 12-2 overall and 8-0 in TCCAA play. 

"Proud of our group for finding a way to win," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "We were far from our best, but our players stayed together and competed when it mattered." 

Raegan Starks led the way for Walters State in the game, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds. It was Starks' fifth double-double of the season.

Along with Starks, Nyjah Gibbs led the team in scoring with 21 points. Gibbs had seven rebounds and five steals, as well. Other contributors for Walters State were Terryauna Griffin with 16 points and six rebounds, Anaya Mulholland-Natt with 10 points and six rebounds, Malia Wilcox with eight assists, Paradise Fisher with four points and five rebounds and Tierra Coleman with four points. 

The Lady Senators shot 42.6% from the field in the game and grabbed 40 rebounds, 21 of them being offensive. Defensively, the Lady Senators forced 20 turnovers and scored 19 points off of them. 

Columbia State scored the first two points in the game, but Walters State responded with nine straight. Griffin got things going with a basket, and Gibbs and Starks followed up with 2-pointers. Mulholland-Natt scored the final three points during the run, draining a triple to make it 9-2. Gibbs scored five more points over the next three minutes to keep the Lady Senators in charge, and it was 16-8 after a basket by Coleman. Columbia State scored the final four points of the quarter, but Walters State led, 16-12. 

The lead was down to one three minutes into the second quarter, but Fisher scored, Gibbs made a free throw and a field goal and Starks scored to make it 25-17. However, Columbia State responded with nine straight points to grab the lead with three minutes left in the half. Mulholland-Natt stopped the run with a three, and the Lady Senators took a 28-27 lead into the locker room.

In the third, Columbia had a 29-28 lead early, but Mulholland-Natt and Coleman each scored to give Walters State a 32-29 advantage. The lead was 36-31 after four straight from Griffin, and it was 38-34 when Starks scored. The Chargers tied the game with four straight, but Gibbs converted an and-one to give Walters State the lead back at 41-38. 

Columbia scored the next five points to get the lead back, but Griffin tied it with a made jumper, and a Mulholland-Natt bucket gave the Lady Senators a 45-43 lead with 3:28 left in the quarter. The run continued for the Lady Senators with a free throw from Griffin, and Gibbs hit two free throws to make it 48-43. Walters State got the lead up to seven at 52-45 with 1:22 to go thanks to a Fisher layup and Gibbs basket, but Columbia State scored the final four points to make it 52-49 heading to the fourth.

In the fourth, the Lady Senators kept the lead for the first five minutes as Gibbs scored four straight to make it 60-55 with 5:47 left. But, Columbia State would not go away and tied the game at 60 with four minutes to go. The Lady Senators got the lead back on a Starks layup and, after a Columbia State free throw, made it 65-61 with 3:25 to go when Griffin converted a shot while being fouled. Columbia State responded with a basket, but Starks scored three in a row to get the lead to 68-63 with 2:32 left. 

Columbia State made one final push, hitting a three to make it 68-66, but Starks scored and then hit two free throws with five seconds left to ice the game. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday, traveling to take on Motlow State. Tip is set for 5:30 pm.