Lady Royals Win on Senior Night, Move Into First-Place Tie with Win Over Columbia

Knoxville, TN- On an emotional Senior Night, the Lady Royals delivered a statement victory, defeating Columbia College 83-72 to move into a tie for first place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference standings.

The Royals (21-4, 16-3 AAC) set the tone early, surging to a 25-15 lead in the first quarter behind efficient shooting and stifling defense. They extended their advantage to 47-36 at halftime, but Columbia (16-10, 9-10 AAC) responded in the third quarter, outscoring Johnson 30-14 to momentarily take the lead.

However, as they have all season, the Royals showed resilience in the fourth quarter. Behind key baskets from Megan Biliter and Bekah Gardner, Johnson roared back with a dominant 22-6 final frame to secure the double-digit win.

Head Coach Bryan Lawhon credited his team's resolve in the closing minutes:

"It was a game of runs. We were up double digits in the first half, came out flat in the third quarter, but the girls responded in the fourth and won by double figures," Lawhon said. "This is a team that doesn't back down from adversity. We know what's at stake, and we want that first-place spot."

Biliter led the Royals with a double-double, posting 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Heifner contributed 13 points and seven assists, while Hannah Jones added 14 points and nine rebounds. Gardner provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, including three three-pointers.

Johnson held Columbia to just 11.1% shooting in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on turnovers and second-chance opportunities to seal the win.

With the victory, the Royals now sit tied atop the AAC standings with just a few games left in the regular season. They'll look to continue their momentum as they push for a conference championship.