WALTERS, CHATTANOOGA MEET FOR REGION CHAMPIONSHIP

Both Walters State and Chattanooga State secured their spots in the championship game Monday afternoon.  Walters defeated Roane in the first game 63-46 while Chattanooga held on to defeat Columbia 60-55 in the second game.

In the first game, the Lady Senators used strong second and fourth quarters to defeat the Lady Raiders.  In those two quarters, Walters would outscore their opponents by a 41-14 mqargin.  Roane would have opportunities in the second half, but was unable to find the bottom of the basket.  For the game, the Lady Senators connected on21 of 58 shots (36.2%) for the game compoared to 15 of 51 (29.4%)  by Roane.  Walters 2would also outrebound Roane by a 46-31 margin.

For Walters, they had two players reach double figues led by 19 points from Kyra Perkins.  Perkins would also lead the team with nine rebounds. Nyjah Gibbs was the pother double digit scorers with 12 points to go with eight rebounds.  Morgan Williams and Jahliya McDomald each had twwo assists and Terryauna Griffin had four steals.  For Roane, they had three scorers reach doublew figures with Anaston Holt leading the way wioth 20 points.  Lyla Bouldin was next with 12 points to go with team highs with four assists and five steals.  Jenna Bush would finish with 11 points to go with her team high ten rebounds.

In the second game, Chattanooga would build a double digit lead (29-19) at the half.  They would extend that lead to as much as 17 points early in the third quarter, but Columbia would fight their way back into the contest, but couldn't hit that key bucket when they got with in three late in the game.  Chattanooga wouls connect on 35.6% (21 of 59) of their shots compared to 39.2% (20 of 51) for Columbia.  Columbia would out rebound Chattanooga as a team by a 37-32 margin

Chattanooga had a trio of scorers in double digits led by Alicia Polk with 21 points as well as team highs in rebounds with seven and assists with four.  Kimora Currie had 16 go with a team high two steals.  Ja'Ka'Yah Draughn also had 11 points and three assists.  For Columbia, they were led by Jacie Scott with 21 points.  Lily Melton and Ansley Burleson also reached double figures with 18 and 11 points.  Burleson led her team with eight rebounds.

This will be the third time that Walters and Chattanooga have met this season.  Walters won both of their regular season meetings.  They won the first meeting at Chattanooga, 60-36, before copmpleting the regular season sweep at home, 63-57.