CIU Athletics
Gordie Frierson, Sports Information Director
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The CIU women’s basketball team continued their challenging Appalachian Athletic schedule on Wednesday night as CIU dueled with Truett McConnell on the Bear’s home court. The matchup was the 13th all-time meeting between the two teams, and while the Bears still lead the series with 8 wins the Rams left the evening with their fifth win over TMU. CIU knocked the Bears off, 81-68, thanks to a massive 3rd quarter run and a combined 42 points from Jordin Mcqueen and Keniah Watkins.
The Bears traded blows throughout the first quarter, but a late three by the Bears gave TMU a 24-21 at the end. CIU took a 35-34 advantage in the second quarter on a Jordin McQueen layup and Hannah Trawick scored back to back baskets for the Rams in the final seconds of the half. However, CIU and TMU were deadlocked at 39-39 going into halftime.
CIU blew the game wide open, outscoring the Bears 23-4 in the thirrd quarter. McQueen and Keniah Watkins were instrumental in the run as Watkins scored 10 points, and McQueen poured in 8 points. The Rams took a 62-43 lead into the final quarter. CIU held as much as 76-55 advantage in the 4th quarter, but TMU cut into the deficit to make the final score a bit more respectable as CIU won it’s third AAC game of the season, 81-68.
Jordin McQueen scored her season-high with 22 points while going 4-6 from beyond the arc.
Junior Keniah Watkins continues her scoring tear with 20 points while getting to the foul line at will. Watkins was 90 percent from the charity stripe going 9-10.
Hannah Trawick’s shot was on target all night as Trawick went 5-5 from the field, scoring 10 points.
In just six conference games the Rams have already tied the record for conference wins with three.
“I’m proud of my team tonight,” head coach Danielle Fleming said. “We played team basketball and executed well. McQueen and Watkins played well for us and we shot 87 percent from the free-throw line. We focused on getting stops tonight, and it paid off.”
CIU will face conference powerhouse Bryan College at home on Saturday at 2 p.m.