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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – With 3.4 seconds left in the game, Michelle Mitchell took an inbounds pass and drained a jumper from near the free throw line as time expired to lift the sixth-ranked Columbus State University women's basketball team 77-75 over the All-Army team on Thursday. The exhibition contest was played inside the Lumpkin Center.
 
Mitchell's final basket gave the senior a game-high 34 points on the night to go along with 14 rebounds. Junior Gabby Williams ended as the only other Lady Cougar in double figures with 10. Ashley Asouzu scored six points and grabbed 12 boards.
 
"We don't have our sideline inbounds plays in yet, so we had to draw something simple up in the huddle," said head coach Jonathan Norton. "I had to convince [Mitchell] that she could dribble it a couple times and she figured it out.
 
"I was really pleased with our man defense. We rebounded well thanks to Mitchell and Asouzu. I was most impressed with those things, but we still have some things we need to get ironed out."
 
Mitchell scored the opening two baskets of the game for the Lady Cougars, but it wasn't until late in the first quarter that CSU held its first lead. Williams hit back-to-back buckets to twice give Columbus State a two-point lead with just over two minutes remaining.
 
The All-Army team took the lead back, however Brea Walker sank a jumper with 18 seconds left in the quarter to give the Lady Cougars a 20-19 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
 
The All-Army group put the first seven points on the board in the second quarter and a three from Jennifer Hazlett stretched the margin out to seven at 29-22. Columbus State would battle right back though, getting a three from Eryn Cochran and free throws from Mitchell to get within two.
 
All-Army stayed on the gas the rest of the quarter leading by as much as nine and led 46-38 at halftime.
 
Columbus State opened the second half with an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to just one (50-49) and set up a tight contest the rest of the way.
 
Two straight field goals from Mitchell gave CSU the lead back with one minute to play in the third and the Eastman, Ga. native sank another with the clock winding down to put the Lady Cougars in front by one entering the fourth.
 
The All-Army team had another strong start in the fourth, rolling out to a 70-65 lead with under five minutes remaining. Walker then came up huge for the Lady Cougars, knocking down two straight three-pointers to seesaw CSU back in front.
 
The Lady Cougars would hold onto the lead until former Lady Cougar Shan Basley connected from distance with 49 seconds to play to tie the game at 75.
 
Each team had a possession to take the lead late, but neither resulted in a basket setting up Mitchell for the winner.
 
Columbus State shot 48.4 percent (30-for-62) for the game, knocking down 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) attempts from outside. Despite giving up size, the Lady Cougars won the rebounding battle 44-35.
 
Columbus State will open up the regular season on Friday, Nov. 13 against Fort Valley State in the PBC/SIAC Challenge. Tipoff from the Lumpkin Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.