MONTREAT, N.C.— Following a short road trip within the state, the Montreat women's basketball team returned to McAlister Gymnasium to start a 4-game homestand Saturday afternoon. Playing the Columbia International University Rams in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) battle, the Cavaliers claimed a 78-50 triumph and improved to 10-7 (7-4 AAC) on the year.
 
The Cavs grabbed an early 7-2 lead thanks to contributions from three different scorers and didn't look back. Transition baskets aided the home side out to a 16-7 edge before a 10-0 run capped off by consecutive 3-pointers from Virginia Edmondson and Katie Alexander ballooned the gap to 22-7 through 10 minutes.
 
After shooting 60.0 percent in the first quarter, Montreat grew its advantage to 18 midway into the second frame. Edmondson, who scored 11 in the initial period, added another eight points over just a minute to enter halftime with a game-high 19 points and help the Cavaliers out to a 26-point lead (44-18) at the intermission.
 
Montreat shot 50.0 percent in the first half (18-36 FG), including 43.8 percent (7-16 3-pt FG) from beyond the arc. The Cavs defense held the Rams to only eight makes on 27 tries (29.6 percent) overall and two connections on eight 3-point attempts (25.0 percent). Due to the large gap, the Cavaliers grabbed a 25-15 rebounding edge, a 12-3 lead in assists and a 7-1 advantage in steals with 20 minutes to play.
 
A 7-0 start to the third frame pushed the Montreat edge to its largest as the Cavaliers pulled ahead by 33 points (51-18) moments into the period. Though Columbia International (3-11, 2-10 AAC) hit a hot stretch after its field goal drought of 4:07 to begin the quarter, Montreat maintained a 62-33 lead through three frames of action thanks to seven more points from Edmondson and six from Madison Cole.
 
CIU outscored the Cavs 17-16 in the final quarter; however, Vaniyah Petty poured in six points and Edmondson completed her 30-point performance with her last four points of the day. In the end, effective offense and suffocating defense allowed the home side to win by 28.
 
Edmondson led all scorers with her 30 points, while Petty ended with 10 and six boards. Cole added eight points, five rebounds and a team-high three blocks. Alexander captained the squad with seven rebounds to go with five assists and Rymiah Sanders led all players with six assists.
 
Due to the dominant performance, Montreat shot 45.6 percent from the field (31-68 FG) and 35.7 percent from three (10-28 3-pt FG) compared to the visitors' mere 29.5 percent (18-61 FG) and 31.8 percent (7-22 3-pt FG), respectively. The Cavaliers finished the contest with double-digit advantages in most statistical categories, including rebounds (46-35), assists (21-10), points in the paint (36-18), points off turnovers (16-5), second-chance points (19-7), fast-break points (17-3) and bench points (24-11).
 
Women's basketball looks to extend its win streak to four games when the Cavaliers host the Columbia College Koalas on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.