COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University women's basketball team knocked off Peach Belt Conference leader Lander 63-57 Saturday afternoon. The game was played in the Lumpkin Center.

Senior Tatiana Wayne led the way for CSU with 17 points while Tatum Jarvis had a monster second half scoring all of her 14 points over the final 20 minutes. Jarvis also ended the night with a double-double with 13 rebounds for her third of the season, and second in a row.

"Without a doubt, this was a huge win for our confidence and for us to build momentum down the stretch run," said head coach Anita Howard. "The crowd was great for Military Appreciation Day and I want to give a shout-out to all the men and women in uniform that came out and cheered us to a victory."

It was a back-and-forth first half with neither team threatening to run away with the victory. Over the first 10 minutes, neither side had a lead larger than a possession with Lander taking a 13-10 lead after Lander hit a three.

Both teams shot it better in the second. With CSU up 23-21, Lander hit consecutive three-pointers to jump back in front 27-23. However, Columbus State closed out the half strong going on a 10-3 run to go into the break ahead 33-30. Four different Lady Cougars scored in the run, including threes from Wayne and LeeAysia Williamson.

In a 35-all game with 7:24 remaining in the third, a Wayne trifecta jump started an 11-3 run that put CSU in front 46-37. Wayne also capped off the spurt with a three while Jarvis added four. CSU would end up going in front by 10 in the final seconds of the quarter before Lander  cut it to 48-40 at the end of the period.

Lander wouldn't go down quietly in the fourth. The Bearcats answered CSU's run with a 10-3 spurt of their own to cut it down to a two point game (51-49) with just over eight minutes to play. 

From there, the two teams would exchange blows, but Columbus State never allowed Lander back in front. In the closing minutes, Lander hit another three-pointer to crawl back within two at 59-57 with 1:25 on the clock, but the Bearcats never had an opportunity for the game-tying shot as CSU iced the game at the free throw line.

As a team, CSU shot 34.9 percent (15-for-35) from the floor while hitting 8-of-25 attempts (32 percent) from beyond the arc.

Columbus State will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 20 hosting Georgia College inside the Lumpkin Center. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.