Lady Cougars Fall in Double Overtime Thriller at North Georgia

Dahlonega, Ga. -- North Georgia's Janyce Ealey hit what became the game winning shot with 1:50 left in the second overtime on Saturday as the Lady Saints took a hard-fought Peach Belt Conference win over visiting Columbus State. CSU had five opportunities to hit the game-winning shot over the remaining time - including Monique Jefferson's jumper just before time expired - but nothing would fall.

"I was proud of the way our team competed and the character they showed," said CSU head coach Jonathan Norton. "This is a tough loss and they were hurting in the locker room afterward. We will take tomorrow off and then have three days to get ready to play Flagler."

The free-throw line, a nemesis for CSU all season, was really a factor for the Lady Cougars on Saturday. The team made just 13 of 27 free-throw tries in the game. Phebe Smith had an opportunity to win the game in regulation for CSU, but the second of her two free-throws seemed to freeze on the rim for an eternity before it fell off with just 1.7 seconds left.

In contrast, North Georgia went 20-23 at the line in the game. Whitney Randolph, also with 1.7 seconds left - this time in the first overtime period - drilled both of her shots to force the second overtime. Randolph had a career game, scoring 32 points to go with 18 boards.

CSU led by four points early in each of the two extra frames. In the first overtime, Monique Jefferson drilled a three-pointer to put CSU up 63-59, but Randolph converted a three-point play and then hit two more free-throws to put the Lady Saints back in front. Nakita Holt's layup with 18 seconds left gave the Lady Cougars a 68-66 lead, but Randolph was fouled and hit her two shots.

In the second overtime, CSU led by four twice in the first minute of play as the Lady Cougars out-scored the hosts 6-2. Danielle Seeley tied the game at 74 with 2:50 left on a pair of free-throws. Renee Jackson could convert just one of two free-throws with 2:06 left for CSU, making it 76-75, but Ealey's shot gave NGC their final lead. CSU go two offensive rebounds and second-chances but could not get a shot to fall as they went 0-5 from the floor in the final 1:50.

Holt led CSU with 18 points on the day, going 9-13 from the floor. Jefferson followed with 15 points on 6-10 shooting (2-3 from 3-pt. range), while Smith scored 11 to go with 17 rebounds before fouling out in the first overtime. Jackson added 10 points on the day. CSU shot 44 percent from the floor for the game.  Smith became just the eighth player in CSU history to eclipse 1,000 points in the second half on Saturday when she scored her 10th point.

In addition to Randolph, Seeley had 16 points for the Lady Saints to go with six rebounds, three assists, and four steals.

CSU hosts Flagler in another Thursday contest at the Lumpkin Center this week. Tip time is set for 5:30 as the Lady Cougars look to rebound from Saturday's tough loss.