MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat women's basketball team crashed the glass and used an efficient fastbreak to overcome an early double-digit disadvantage as the team notched a 79-71 triumph over the Columbia International University Rams inside McAlister Gymnasium Wednesday evening. With the triumph, the Cavaliers improved to 12-17 (9-14 AAC) on the year.
 
Early on, the Cavs struggled from the field, converting on just two of their first 14 shot attempts. Meanwhile, the Rams drained five of their initial 11 tries from deep to jump out to a 23-9 lead over Montreat. Five points from Triniti Lockhart helped the Cavaliers pull within 11, but CIU made eight baskets, including scoring nine points off turnovers, to go up 23-12 after 10 minutes.
 
In the second quarter, the Cavs bounced back, outscoring the visitors 25-10 in the frame to lead 37-33 at the break. Second-chance points due to offensive rebounds aided the Cavaliers, who bested the Rams 10-3 in the category heading into halftime. Montreat utilized four offensive boards from Alexis Marshall and three from Alaina McPherson in the first 20 minutes to hold the advantage through two periods.
 
Caleigh Raby and Jessyka Leak each scored eight points in the first half, including 16 combined points in the second quarter, as the Cavaliers made nine of their 19 shots in the frame. CIU connected on a mere 16.7 percent (3-18 FG) of its shots in the second as the Cavs took control.
 
A back-and-forth battle ensued in the second half, with the Rams regaining an advantage by scoring six more points than the home team in the third and Montreat responding to close out its triumph in the final period.
 
Eight different Rams scored in the third frame to give the visitors a slim 53-51 advantage with 10 minutes to play.
 
In the final period, the Cavaliers, who outrebounded the Rams in every quarter of the contest, took advantage of CIU's inability to finish. Montreat grabbed 14 boards to Columbia International's 10, while getting out in transition to score quickly. The Cavs utilized an 8-0 edge in fast break points in the last period to grow their lead to as many as 13 down the stretch.
Forty-six points in the paint punctuated the eight-point win, as the Cavaliers converted opportunities and second-chance attempts over the course of the contest. In the final quarter, Montreat held CIU to just 26.3 percent (5-19 FG), while shooting a game-best 57.1 percent (12-21 FG) itself to snap the squad's seven-game losing skid.
 
Raby scored 11 fourth-quarter points to lead all players with 25. Leak registered 14 points, and McPherson collected 11 to go with her nine rebounds. Vaniyah Petty captained the rebounding efforts for the competition with a career-high 12, including five offensive boards. Five different Cavs snatched at least seven rebounds as Montreat's aggression resulted in a 57-39 edge on the glass. Destiny Lewis padded the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
 
Women's basketball wraps up its regular season in its next contest, a matchup against Bryan College on Saturday. Tipoff in McAlister Gymnasium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.