MORRISTOWN, TN — No. 22 Walters State has shown a strong defense all season long, holding teams to 45 points per game. And when the offense can get going like it did in the third quarter on Saturday, the Lady Senators can be downright scary.

Taking on Columbia State, Walters State went on a 23-4 run in the third quarter, blowing the game open in a 78-47 victory. 

With the win, the Lady Senators improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in TCCAA play. They have now won four straight and have won their last nine regular season conference games, dating back to last season. 

"I thought we came out of the locker room and did a really good job on both ends of the floor in the second half," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "We did a good job of responding to adversity when Maiya (Reed) went out with four fouls. Tyasia (Reed) and Kailyn (Farrell) really stepped up for us in that second half, as did Rose (Morrow), Asia (Barr) and Izarria (Alexander). It was a good team win."

Tyasia Reed led the Lady Senators in the game with 25 points. Reed was strong in the second half with 16 points. She made three 3-pointers.

Along with Reed, Kailyn Farrell had 18 points while Maiya Reed added 12 points despite picking up her fourth foul early in the third quarter. 

Other scorers for Walters State were Asia Barr with eight, Izarria Alexander with eight, Rose Morrow with six and Juilenne Ongbagnamen with one. 

It was a back-and-forth start to the game as Walters State scored the first four points before Columbia took a lead at 7-6 and held onto it until 30 seconds remained in the quarter. With under a minute to go, Tyasia Reed hit a 3-pointer that gave Walters State a 14-13 lead after one. 

In the second, Columbia State tied the game nine seconds in but the Lady Senators scored seven quick points to go up 21-14. During that run, Maiya Reed hit a 3-pointer, Farrell hit two free throws and Tyasia Reed scored. 

However, Columbia answered with seven straight to tie the game back up. The two teams traded leads after that before the Lady Senators scored 10 straight to go up 33-24 as Maiya Reed hit a 3-pointer and two free throws, Farrell made a free throw and Tyasia Reed scored four. It was 33-25 in favor of Walters State at the half. 

The third quarter was the difference in the game as Walters State scored the first nine points of the quarter as Farrell made two shots, Barr hit a 3-pointer and Tyasia Reed scored to extend the lead to 42-26. Columbia broke the drought with a free throw but Morrow scored after that, converting an old-fashioned 3-point play. Following a made free throw by Columbia, Walters State rallied off 12 of the final 14 points of the quarter to make it 56-30 after three. Barr capped off the quarter with a 3-pointer. 

The fourth quarter was more of the same as Walters State scored 22 more points. Tyasia Reed knocked down two 3-pointers and scored nine in the quarter while Farrell added seven and Alexander had four. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action next Friday in Florida as they take on St. Petersburg College. Tip is set for 4:30 p.m. at Pensacola State.

"This is just another opportunity to work on us and play good competition," Coleman said. "Playing games like these next couple will only help us when it gets to late in the season and in postseason play."

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics