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By: Richard Navratil

COLUMBUS – The 24^th-ranked Columbus State University women's basketball team battled to a 30^th straight home victory with an 81-69 win over North Georgia on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference contest was played inside the Lumpkin Center.
 
The eighth straight victory on the season moves the Lady Cougars to 21-4 overall and 15-3 in the Peach Belt Conference as they prepare for their final regular season game. CSU remains tied with Clayton State atop the PBC West Division with the two set to square off Wednesday night in the regular season finale.
 
In her final regular season home game, senior Michelle Mitchell turned in a season high 29 points and came up just two rebounds shy of her eighth double-double of the season. The Eastman, Ga. native was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe, while shooting 10-for-22 from the field. Britteny Tatum matched her season high with 17 points and Gabby Williams scored 10.
 
"We had to make some adjustments after North Georgia got off to a hot start," said head coach Jonathan Norton. "We knew they were eventually going to cool off and I thought our pressure really bothered them.
 
"We now have a chance to play for a conference championship on Wednesday night. We know it's going to be a tough game and environment, but you can't ask for much more."
 
North Georgia (17-10, 9-9) came out red hot, shooting 80 percent from the field in the first quarter. The Nighthawks knocked down five three-pointers, including a 4-for-4 effort from Jordan Livesay in the first 10 minutes.
 
Columbus State hung tough though, never allowing UNG to lead by more than six. Mitchell scored on the final possession of the quarter to pull CSU within 22-19, part of her 10-point output in the first.
 
The second quarter started in similar fashion for the visiting Nighthawks as a 7-0 run gave them their biggest lead of the ballgame at 29-19.
 
Trailing 31-23, Columbus State began to claw its way back into the game started by a three-point play from Mitchell. A free throw from Ashley Asouzu and two from Tatum pulled CSU within two and Ashley Johnson tied the game at 31 with an offensive rebound and putback.
 
CSU took its first lead of the day at 34-33 on a Gabby Williams bucket, but the Nighthawks scored the final three points of the half and led 36-34 at the break.
 
After making some halftime adjustments, the Lady Cougars came out and played one of their best quarters of the season. CSU held a 49-46 lead with four minutes remaining in the third before kicking the offense into high gear.
 
Tatum collected an offensive rebound and laid it back in and then finished a fastbreak following a steal from Mitchell. Erin Morrow capped off a 10-0 run with her only three-pointer of the night to give the Lady Cougars a 59-46 lead.
 
North Georgia was able to cut the deficit down to seven on two different occasions in the fourth quarter, but CSU wouldn't allow it to get any closer capping off a perfect regular season on its home floor.
 
Columbus State shot 40.8 percent (29-for-71) from the floor despite cold shooting to start the game. CSU went 20-for-29 from the free throw line, including 14-of-17 in the first half.
 
The Lady Cougars dominated in a pair of categories, grabbing 23 offensive rebounds resulting in 21 second chance points. CSU also forced 23 turnovers which it turned into 37 points.
 
North Georgia cooled off to 47.9 percent (23-of-48) and was 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) from three.
 
Columbus State will head to Morrow, Ga. to square off with Clayton State on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.