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By: Stephen Williams

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – A pair of free throws with 3.4 seconds on the clock broke a tie game and ultimately were the difference in a 70-68 loss at Carson-Newman for the sixth-ranked Columbus State University women's basketball team. Saturday's non-conference contest was played in Holt Fieldhouse in Jefferson City, Tenn.
 
Michelle Mitchell finished with a game-high 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting to go with five rebounds. Ashley Asouzu added 15 points of her, while Eryn Cochran chipped in 10. Britteny Tatum and Gabby Williams ended with nine and eight points, respectively, as the Lady Cougar starting five racked up 66 of 68 points.
 
"This is a tough loss on the road against one of the best teams in our region," said CSU head coach Jonathan Norton. "We did not defend the three or rebound well enough to win.
 
"We gave ourselves a chance leading for 38 minutes, but we did not execute well enough down the stretch to finish."
 
With the score tied at 68, Carson-Newman (4-0) forced a Lady Cougar turnover and went streaking to the opposite end of the court. The shot from Tatum Burstrom was deflected out of bounds, giving the Eagles an opportunity with 4.4 seconds remaining.
 
On the ensuing inbounds, Columbus State (3-1) was whistled for a foul sending Katie Stubblefield to the line for two shots. Stubblefield would knock both down putting the Lady Cougars down two with 3.4 seconds to play.
 
Mitchell would get a clean look from the left elbow after a timeout, but the shot rolled off the rim to give the Eagles the victory.
 
Columbus State got off to a hot start in the first quarter with five straight points from Mitchell and a three-point play by Cochran to give the Lady Cougars an 8-2 lead.
 
The margin grew to nine midway through the quarter, but the Eagles would claw back to within one (21-20) before Williams connected on a late jumper to give CSU a 23-20 lead after 10 minutes.
 
CSU would stay in front throughout the second quarter, with a 6-0 run pushing the advantage out to double figures at 37-27 with just under four minutes until halftime. Four straight points from Carson-Newman down the stretch brought the game to 39-33 at the break.
 
Each side scored 13 points in a defensive-minded third quarter, sending CSU into the fourth with a six-point lead.
 
Columbus State led by as much as nine (62-53) with 6:34 remaining before the Eagles began their comeback. C-N closed the game on a 17-6 run.
 
CSU shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) from the field and made only 3-of-12 from outside. The Lady Cougars were a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line.
 
Carson-Newman finished at 50 percent (27-of-54), knocking down 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from three.
 
Columbus State will have two weeks away from game action before traveling to Tuskegee on Saturday, Dec. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.