Lady Cougars Aim to Take Down Lady Braves in PBC Tilt
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The Match-Up
After tying a school record Monday evening against Augusta State, the Columbus State University women's basketball team (10-7, 5-3) will look to string together a pair of victories as UNC Pembroke comes to town. CSU managed to pull out a 51-41 victory against ASU five days ago tying a school mark for the lowest points scored in a victory. In the win on Monday, Dominique Gilbert continued her great play of late as she recorded her sixth double-double of the season scoring 21 points and grabbing a season best 15 rebounds. Along with Shan Basley who netted 13 points, the duo combined to score 66 percent of the Lady Cougars 51 points. CSU struggled once again from three-point land making just one of 11 shots from beyond the arc. Gilbert has scored more than 20 points in three out of the past four outings. UNC Pembroke (8-9, 5-4) will enter the Lumpkin Center after losing to Augusta State Wednesday evening. The Lady Braves will be looking for their first victory ever in the city of Columbus as they are 0-12 all-time.
Scouting the Lady Braves
UNC Pembroke (8-9, 5-4) will be entering Saturday afternoon's game losing their first game in the past five contests. After to falling Clayton State, the Lady Braves rattled off four straight victories until Wednesday evening's lost to Augusta State 59-51.
The Lady Braves are led by Courtney Bolton who averages 12.4 points per game. The junior forward has been a force down low grabbing 5.8 rebounds and shooting 53.1 percent from the field, the fifth best mark in the Peach Belt Conference. DeDe Cotton is also having a fine season averaging 10.1 points a night. Cotton is UNCP's perimeter threat having knocked down 39 three-point field goals. She also can pass the ball around as she averages 3.2 assists a night. Domonique Washington may be the key to the game. Washington can put up points averaging 10.2 points a game while also dishing out 3.8 assists a game and grabbing 2.7 steals a night.
As a team, UNC Pembroke is 11th in the Peach Belt Conference in scoring as the Lady Braves put up 56.9 points a night. They are ninth in field goal percentage (38.1), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (28.0) and fourth in free throw percentage (67.8). The Lady Braves get outrebounded by 1.2 boards a game, however they only commit 16.7 turnovers a night.
Columbus State in the Nation
In the latest NCAA Statistical Release (through January 26 games), Columbus State is 21st in the nation in rebounding margin outrebounding opponents by 7.4 boards a game. The Lady Cougars are also 32nd nationally in field goal percentage defense limiting opponents just to a 35.3 percentage from the floor. CSU has also been discipline committing the fourth fewest personal fouls in nation averaging just 13.2 a night. Individually, Dominique Gilbert continues to impress with her shot blocking abilities ranking 22nd in the county in block shots per game (2.4).
A CSU Win Would
• Be the program's 410th victory. Since the inception of the program, CSU has won the most games than any member in the conference.
• Improve Columbus State's record to 13-0 all-time versus UNC Pembroke in the city of Columbus.
• Be the 20th home victory for Columbus State in the Jonathan Norton era. The Lady Cougars are 19-13 in the Lumpkin Center under Norton.
