Starks scores 23 to lead No. 24 Walters State past Columbia State, 72-41

MORRISTOWN, TN – Raegan Starks scored a season-high 23 points on Wednesday evening, as No. 24 Walters State defeated Columbia State 72-41 to take a three-game lead in the TCCAA standings.

With the victory, the Lady Senators improved to 13-4 overall and 10-0 in TCCAA play.

"This team has faced a lot of adversity this year and in the last few days, but they continue to believe and rise," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "Really happy with how we defended and came out in the second half. 

"Raegan is just starting to trust our process in practice and now really stepping into her own the last few games." 

Along with Starks' 23 points, Jahliya McDonald and Nyjah Gibbs played well downlow and each finished with 12 points. Other scorers for the Lady Senators were Terryauna Griffin with 11 points, Kyra Perkins with 10 points, Morgan Williams with two points and Anaya Mulholland-Natt with two points. 

The Lady Senators came out hot to start the game, scoring the first six points. Gibbs had four of those, with Griffin scoring the other two. Columbia got on the board with a free throw, but Walters State answered with baskets by McDonald and Starks to increase their lead to 10-1.

The Lady Senators scored four more in the quarter, on free throws from Perkins and McDonald, and led 14-6 after one.

In the second, Columbia cut the lead to four with four quick points, but Starks hit a three to get the lead back to seven. The lead was five at 17-12 a minute later, but Walters State got a basket by Perkins, a bucket by Gibbs, a 3-pointer by Starks, a basket by McDonald and an and-one by Perkins to grab a 29-12 lead.

Columbia broke the run with four points, but Williams hit a shot with 10 seconds left to give the Lady Senators a 31-16 advantage at the break. 

The third quarter saw Walters State score the first six points to go up by 21. Columbia broke the run with a bucket, but Starks scored five straight, Gibbs hit two free throws and Perkins converted another and-one that made it 44-19. Walters State kept it going to end the quarter and led 53-26.

In the fourth, Starks concluded her night with eight more points while Griffin had five and Gibbs, McDonald and Mulholland-Natt each scored. The Lady Senators outscored Columbia 19-15 in the fourth and went on for the win.

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday, on the road at Southwest Tennessee. Tip is set for 3 pm ET.