Freeman leads Skyhawks in first AAC win

WEST POINT, Ga. (Nov. 21, 2020) — Two 27 point quarters helped lift the Point University women's basketball team to their first Appalachian Athletic Conference win of the season as they defeated Columbia International University 73-70 Saturday afternoon inside West Point Gym.

Play-by-play

In the first quarter, the Skyhawks only held the Rams to one point in the final three minutes of play, and went on a 11-1 run to lead by 15 entering the second quarter. Iyanna McMillan gave the Skyhawks the double-digit lead at 10 points with nearly a minute left in the quarter. Nicole Izuagie then connected for a three, and Za'kkria Robinson followed with a made two-pointer off of a CIU turnover.

The Rams answered back in the second half, holding the Skyhawks to only nine points while they connected for 18. Point entered the second half leading 36-30 with Izuagie leading the way with eight points.

In the third quarter, Point extended their lead back out to double figures off two back-to-back made shots by Jada Freeman and McMillan, but the Rams retook the lead in the final seconds of the quarter off two made free throws by Jordan Sprueill to enter the fourth quarter ahead 48-46.

Columbia International extended their lead out to five in the open minutes of the fourth quarter, but Freeman tied the score at 55 off a made put-back shot on an offensive rebound with six minutes remaining in the game. The Rams earned the lead back off a Zion Neat made free throw, followed by a triple by Neat to lead by four. Hannah Williams would cut CIU's lead in half and and Robinson would put Point down by one off a made free throw before McMillan earned the lead back for the Skyhawks of a CIU turnover.

Columbia International would gain the lead back but Williams would followed retake the lead back in Point's favor with three and a half minutes left in the game. Point would hold onto the lead for the rest of the game, with back-to-back made free throws by Kimberley Forbes extending Point's lead out by five in the final seconds left in the game. A Point foul would send CIU's Sprueill to the line to make the and one shot to bring the game back to a one possession contest. With less than a second left in the game, a CIU foul would send Williams to the line where she'd make one of her two free throws to close out the game.

By the numbers

Three Skyhawks made it to double-digit scoring, led by Freeman with 20 points, followed by McMillan and Izuagie with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Freeman also led the Skyhawks in rebounds with nine and Forbes followed with eight.

Up next

Point will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 5, for an AAC matchup at Columbia College. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.