Basketball Defeats Columbia 86-85 in Double Overtime

Gainesville, Georgia- The Brenau basketball team held off Columbia (S.C.) College 86-85 in a thrilling double overtime Appalachian Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday.

After a 64-64 tie at the end of regulation, both teams battled in the first overtime period with neither team taking more than a two point advantage. With 9.1 seconds left in the first overtime and the score tied 72-72, Columbia forward Denijah Johnson scored on a driving layup to give the Koalas a two point lead.

On the ensuing possession, freshman guard Nyla Moore hit a driving layup with 1.2 seconds left to send the game into a second overtime.

In the second overtime, Brenau went up by five points as junior guard Tyleia Williams hit two free throws to up the lead to 85-80. However, Columbia (1-2 overall, 1-2 AAC) chipped away at the lead, scoring on two of the next three possessions to make the score 85-84. Again, Williams went to the line and made one of two foul shots to give the Koalas possession with just under 10 seconds remaining. However, Columbia missed two opportunities to score to come up just short and allow the Golden Tigers to escape with the victory.

Williams led all scorers with a career-high 24 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Hanna Grogan added 16 points and eight rebounds. Fellow senior Tatyiana McClendon posted her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore Katherine Fourie added 11 points. Junior post Xian Lopez also added six points and 11 rebounds.

Jordan Morgan led Columbia with 23 points.

Brenau (2-1 overall, 2-1 AAC) next travels to Columbia International University (1-2 overall, 1-2 AAC) for a conference game at 5:30 on Thursday.