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By: Josh Fuller

GAFFNEY, S.C. – A poor shooting second half allowed Francis Marion to rally from a halftime deficit to defeat the 23^rd-ranked Columbus State University women's basketball team 67-58 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The game was played at the Timken Center in Gaffney, S.C.
 
With the loss, CSU concludes its season with a 25-6 record. It is the second consecutive year that the Lady Cougars bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round.
 
"We didn't play our best game offensively tonight," commented head coach Jonathan Norton. "You can't expect to win scoring 25 points in the second half and were 1-for-8 from three.
 
"Give Francs Marion all the credit for executing a good game plan. One loss doesn't define your season and my heart goes out to every single one of my girls. They played their hearts out every game for each other and accomplished great things this year. Ultimately, we came up just shy of our season goals."
 
It was all Columbus State early as the Lady Cougars raced out to a 9-4 lead after just three and a half minutes of action. Gabby Williams had four of the first nine points for CSU, including a fast break layup following a steal.
 
The Patriots came right back, scoring the game's next six points to take their first lead of the night at 10-9 with 5:50 showing on the clock. Camille Dash had a four-point play after being fouled on a successful three-pointer.
 
Neither team would go in front by more than a point for the remainder of the quarter until Brittney Tatum knocked down a three ball off an assist from Brea Walker to give CSU a 20-16 lead. However, FMU responded with a three of its own to cut CSU's lead down to 20-19 after the opening 10 minutes.
 
CSU's defense was the story in the second quarter as the Lady Cougars limited FMU to just 4-of-20 shooting in the quarter. The Lady Cougars didn't allow the Patriots to make their first field goal in the quarter until the 4:58 mark. However, CSU couldn't pull away building just a six-point advantage.
 
Francis Marion got the lead down to three (33-30) in the closing minute of the half before Michelle Mitchell hit two free throws to give CSU a 35-30 lead at the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, everything was clicking for the Columbus State as the lead stretched out to nine (41-32) on another fast break bucket from Williams.
 
Things began to change as Francis Marion reeled off seven straight points to make it just a two-point (41-39) game with 6:24 to play in the third.

The two teams were exchanging buckets with Columbus State holding onto the lead until the quarter's final minute. FMU scored the quarter's final four points to go in front 50-49 after Alaysia Watts hit a pair of free throws.
 
Nothing went Columbus State's way in the fourth as the Lady Cougars managed just nine points as Francis Marion pulled away for the win. CSU made just two of its 14 field goal attempts in the quarter, including missing its final nine shots.
 
Four Lady Cougars scored in double figures led by Mitchell's 16. The senior posted a double-double after grabbing 13 rebounds in her final Lady Cougar game. Ashley Johnson scored 12 while Ashley Asouzu and Williams had 11 and 10, respectively.
 
CSU shot 35.8 percent from the field and was nearly perfect from the free throw line going 19-for-21.

Watts scored a game-high 18 points while Briana Burgins had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Francis Marion shot 34.4 percent for the game while hitting just four of their 15 three-point attempts.