Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Stephen Williams

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Playing the majority of the night without the Peach Belt Conference's leading scorer, the Columbus State University women's basketball team picked up a 71-56 win at Montevallo on Wednesday night. The contest was played inside TrustMark Arena in Montevallo, Ala.
 
Ashley Asouzu matched her career high with 21 points on the evening, adding 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year. Britteny Tatum poured in 15 points and played all but one minute, while Gabby Williams added 12. The pair of guards had four steals apiece.
 
"Our energy level wasn't great tonight," said head coach Jonathan Norton. "We seemed to be going through the motions early, but we picked it up in the fourth quarter and were able to pull away.
 
"With Michelle [Mitchell] not feeling well tonight, other people had to step up and play a lot of minutes. Ashley [Asouzu] has really played well since the start of January and was outstanding tonight."
 
It was a sluggish start for Columbus State (18-4, 12-3 PBC), as the Lady Cougars needed two and a half minutes to get their first points. After falling behind 6-2, CSU went on a 9-0 run capped off by a Brea Walker three-pointer.
 
The lead would hang between three and six until the middle stages of the second quarter. Leading 19-15, Columbus State went on another quick run, this time scoring 10 straight. Once again, it was Walker that finished off the spurt, burying back-to-back threes to give the Lady Cougars their largest lead at 29-15.
 
From there, CSU went cold and would not score over the final 4:30 of the quarter. In the meantime, Montevallo (7-14, 4-11) scored 10 unanswered points to close the game to 29-25 at halftime.
 
The Falcons continued their run after the break, scoring the first four points of the third quarter to tie the game.
 
Eryn Cochran quickly broke the tie, knocking down one from beyond the arc on the following possession. Asouzu then added three straight points to add to the CSU advantage. Columbus State stayed in front throughout the third quarter, but carried just a 46-42 lead into the fourth.
 
The Lady Cougars quickly pulled away in the game's final quarter, opening on an 11-4 run over the first three minutes. With the lead back in double figures (57-46), CSU would gradually pull away, leading by as much as 18 on its way to victory.
 
Columbus State was 29-of-74 (39.2 percent) from the field on the night and made only 5-of-21 (23.8 percent) three-point attempts.
 
Montevallo outshot the Lady Cougars in both categories, going 22-for-53 (41.5 percent) overall and 40 percent (4-of-10) from three.
 
The Lady Cougars won the game in part due to their work on the glass. CSU outrebounded UM 50-33 with 20 offensive rebounds leading to 13 second chance points. CSU also scored 24 points off 17 Falcon turnovers.
 
Columbus State will now return home for three straight contests in the Lumpkin Center. The homestand begins with Saturday's matchup against Young Harris. The Lady Cougars will be looking to avenge an earlier 55-51 loss at YHC on Jan. 24. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.