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By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – Looking to avenge one of its four losses, the Columbus State University women's basketball team led nearly wire-to-wire in a 68-49 victory over Young Harris Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Lumpkin Center.

With the win, Columbus State extends its own PBC record for most consecutive home wins with 28. CSU also keeps pace with Clayton State atop the PBC West Division after the Lakers defeated Montevallo 73-57 on Saturday.

"I was really happy in how we played today," said CSU head coach Jonathan Norton. "We made the right passes to find the open shooter and when we got an open shot, we nailed it. Our defense was great again creating some key turnovers."

It took nearly three and a half minutes for Young Harris (9-14, 4-12 PBC) to make its first field goal of the day with Jenny Vernet converting a three-point play after being fouled. However, the three points was enough to give YHC an early 3-2 lead. It was the only point in the game that the Lady Cougars trailed.

Both teams would pick up the pace from there with Columbus State jumping out in front 10-5 thanks to consecutive buckets from Ashley Asouzu. Young Harris railed right back though scoring seven of the final nine points in the quarter to tie the game at 12 after one.

The second quarter was all CSU as the Lady Cougars outscored Young Harris 20-8. Erin Morrow got the scoring started with a three-pointer which jumped started a 9-2 Columbus State run to put the Lady Cougars up 21-14 midway through the quarter. Asouzu fueled the spurt scoring six of the nine points during the run.

After Young Harris broke the run, Brittney Tatum stole a pass and capped the play off with a three to put CSU up eight (24-16). The Lady Cougars eventually stretched the lead out too 32-20 at the break.

Coming out of the break, Columbus State (19-4, 13-3) continue to build upon its lead scoring the first 12 points of the second to go in front 44-20. The 24-point lead was the largest of the game. Tatum used her long ball in the 12-0 run connecting on two threes.

Young Harris was able to get the lead down to 19 on another three-point play by Vernet but Tatiana Wayne hit a jumper in the final seconds of the quarter to give CSU a 49-28 lead entering the final 10 minutes.

In the fourth, Young Harris got as close as 16 twice, but Columbus State was able to cruise to victory.

Asouzu and Mitchell each had 14 points for the Lady Cougars with Morrow and Tatum scoring 13 and 11, respectively. Asouzu was 6-for-9 from the field and was just one rebound shy of a double-double. Morrow's 13 points were a career-high.

As a team, CSU shot 42.6 percent (29-for-68) from the floor and 31.6 percent (6-for-19) from three. The Lady Cougars shot just five free throws, but made four of them.

Vernet paced YHC with 18 points and six rebounds.

The Mountain Lions shot 33.3 percent (18-for-54) and made just 3-of-15 three-point attempts.

Columbus State will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 17 hosting Montevallo at 5:30 p.m. inside the Lumpkin Center. CSU defeated the Falcons 71-56 on Wednesday.