MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat women's basketball team utilized a 7-0 run over the final 58 seconds of Saturday afternoon's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest against the Columbia International University Rams to defeat the visitors, 65-58, and extend its win streak to five games. With the victory, the Cavaliers improved to 13-5 (11-5 AAC) this year, surpassing its win total from the 2021-22 season in the process.
 
Columbia International (8-11, 7-8 AAC) held a 10-6 lead over the Cavaliers midway through the quarter thanks to a 3-of-7 start from the field that included a pair of 3-pointers. Montreat struggled from the floor early (2-8 FG), but Tatiyana Cannon and Ja'Liah Wilson got out in transition to level the score at 10 with 1:56 remaining in the frame. While CIU scored seven points during the final two minutes of the period, Adrianna Gullette hit a jumper and a layup to keep the Cavs within 17-14 after the first.
 
Mariya Williams scored the opening two baskets in the second quarter, triggering an 11-2 spurt that saw Montreat surge ahead by six points just 4:17 into the frame (25-19). CIU did respond with back-to-back triples to knot the score at 25, but the Cavaliers utilized another run to grab the lead entering halftime. Cannon buried a 3-pointer to start the 9-0 sequence, and Cierra Lail, Wilson and Makayla Thompson each hit a jumper as the Cavs snagged their largest lead of the first half at 34-25. Only a Rams' 3-point bucket could stem the tide as Montreat led 34-28 at the intermission.
 
Montreat owned advantages on the glass (25-20) and in the paint (12-8) at the break after out-shooting the Rams through 20 minutes of action. The Cavaliers went 14-for-37 (37.8 percent) from the field and 3-for-4 (75.0 percent) at the free-throw line, while their counterparts shot 10-of-33 (30.3 percent) overall and 3-of-5 (60.0 percent) at the charity stripe. Three-point shooting kept the Rams within shouting distance entering the second half as the visitors connected on five of their 12 looks from beyond the arc (41.7 percent) compared to the hosts' 3-for-9 showing (33.3 percent). Thompson led all scorers at the half with 12 points, and Vaniyah Petty paced the Cavs with five rebounds.
 
The Rams opened the third quarter hot from the floor, nailing five of their first eight shot attempts to tie the game at 39 just four minutes into the period. CIU took the lead moments later at 43-41, but the Cavaliers had just enough answers to keep up with the visitors. After evening up the score twice, Montreat finally regained the lead thanks to a pair of offensive rebounds that ultimately led to a Thompson 3-pointer from the left wing. With the bucket, the Cavs owned a 51-48 edge on the scoreboard with just 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
In the game's most physical quarter, both teams traded blows until the final buzzer sounded. Thompson and Adrianna Gullette staked the Cavaliers out to a 55-52 lead midway through the frame, but the Rams leveled the scoreboard with a triple. After Williams and Petty restored the 3-point lead at 58-55, CIU responded with another triple to tie the game with just 1:51 remaining. On its home floor, Montreat delivered the knockout blow over the final minute. Gullette had a hand in every point of the Cavs' game-winning 7-0 run during the final 58 seconds, assisting on a fastbreak basket while scoring the other five points herself. In the end, Gullette led the charge to help Montreat secure its fifth consecutive victory.
 
"My team battled again today," said head coach Josh Thompson. "It was a total team effort. CIU played us really tough."
 
CIU won the battle from behind the arc, shooting 37.5 percent (9-24 3-pt FG) compared to the Cavaliers' 5-for-17 performance (29.4 percent); however, Montreat shot the ball better overall thanks to a higher level of efficiency inside the arc. The Cavs went 26-for-69 overall (37.7 percent) while holding the visitors to a 33.8-percent clip (22-65 FG). Montreat also owned a 24-18 advantage in the paint to finish out the win.
 
Thompson led the Cavaliers in scoring with 20 points, while Williams (16) and Gullette (15) joined her in double figures. Petty grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds, followed by Williams' eight boards and Gullette's seven rebounds. Gullette and Chesnee Freeman paced the team with three assists each.
 
The Montreat women's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday for an AAC matchup against Reinhardt University, a team receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside McAlister Gymnasium.