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By: Richard Navratil

COLUMBUS – The sixth-ranked Columbus State University women's basketball team opened up its 2015-16 slate in grand fashion, taking down Fort Valley State University 81-41. The game was played on CSU's home court inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Center on Friday night as part of the PBC/SIAC Challenge.
 
All five starters for head coach Jonathan Norton put up double digits in points on the evening. The most damage was done by Gabby Williams and Michelle Mitchell, contributing 13 points apiece. Ashley Asouzu added 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Eryn Cochran, Britteny Tatum and Tatiana Wayne chipped in 11 each.

"I was really pleased tonight," said Norton. "The ball movement was good and we protected the ball against a team that pressured a lot. To have six people chip in with double figures was outstanding."

Cochran drained a three-pointer on the first Columbus State (1-0) possession of the night and the Lady Cougars would be in front the rest of the way. The CSU lead was five six minutes into the first quarter, but the Lady Cougars picked it up from there and closed the quarter strong. Mitchell made her second basket of the night to move the lead out to seven (15-8) which staredt a 9-0 Columbus State run. Williams scored the final seven points of the quarter to give CSU a 26-11 advantage.

The lead continued to grow in the second quarter, reaching as much as 24 (40-16) with under two minutes to play in the first half.
 
CSU shot 41.2% (14-for-34) from the field in the opening half, while limiting Fort Valley State (0-1) to just five made field goals.

It was much of the same in the second half for the Lady Cougars. FVSU was able to get inside 20 points early in the third quarter after scoring the first three points, but a Mitchell three-point play put it back at 21 and the Lady Wildcats would not get the lead under 20 again.

Columbus State got the three-point shot working midway through the fourth quarter as Erin Morrow, Wayne and Cochran each connected from downtown. Another three, this time from Brea Walker, pushed the lead out to its largest point at 41 (79-38) with just over one minute to go.

CSU ended the night at 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the field, making 6-of-18 three-pointers. The Lady Cougars finished 21-of-28 (75 percent) from the charity stripe. The Lady Cougars held Fort Valley State to just 22.2 percent (10-for-45) overall.

Columbus State will close out the PBC/SIAC Challenge Saturday afternoon against Albany State. The Lady Rams fell 67-54 against Georgia Southwestern in the first contest in the Lumpkin Center on Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.