DAHLONEGA, Ga. - The Columbus State University women's basketball team went cold in the second quarter allowing No. 10 North Georgia to build a comfortable margin before going on for an 80-58 Peach Belt Conference victory Wednesday night. The game took place inside the UNG Convocation Center in Dahlonega, Ga.

Jurnee Smith nailed a three at the 5:07 mark in the second quarter to pull CSU (9-3, 4-2 PBC) within six, 27-21, but that would be the final bucket of the half for the Lady Cougars. North Georgia (14-1, 7-0) scored the final 10 points of the half before stretching the run out to 17-0 in the third quarter to pull away. 

"Obviously, we didn't get the result that we wanted," commented head coach Matt Houser. "We failed to do much well, and we will just have to take some time to correct some things."

"All the credit to North Georgia. They are an excellent basketball team. We will get another chance at them later in the year, and we will be better prepared."

Aujana Dawkins was one of the few Columbus State players that had a good shooting night. The junior continued her good work in conference play with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double performance. She was 8-for-13 on her shot attempts with three steals. Smith was the only other player in double figures with 14 points going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. 

As a team, CSU shot 32.9 percent (23-for-70) and was 4-for-16 from three. UNG controlled the glass out-rebounding the Lady Cougars 43-26. 

Columbus State will return back to the Lumpkin Center for a Saturday afternoon showdown against Flagler. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
 

Play-by-Play

First Half

North Georgia raced out to an early 6-2 lead, but Columbus State quickly erased the deficit to go up 8-6 to take its only lead of the night. UNG responded with nine straight points helping the Nighthawks build a 19-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Early in the second, North Georgia threatened to pull away extending the lead to 25-12 with three quick buckets. Columbus State fought back, eventually making it a single-digit deficit following a LeeAysia Williamson fastbreak layup off a steal. After a UNG bucket, five straight points by Jurnee Smith pulled the Lady Cougars within six, 27-21, with 5:07 to play. UNG caught fire from there, holding the Lady Cougars off the board for the remainder of the half to go into the break up 37-21.

Second Half

North Georgia's run continued into the third quarter. Seven straight points to open the half extended UNG's run to 17-0 as the lead expanded to 44-21. Kaihla Carter broke the scoreless drought with a layup with 7:59 showing on the clock. Columbus State regrouped going on a 14-4 run to close the gap to 58-39. Dawkins and Smith were key in the run scoring six and five points, respectively. Chrisalyn Boston scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter, but that would be as close as Columbus State would get the rest of the way.

 

Inside the Numbers

• Aujana Dawkins continued her strong play in PBC action with her season-high 18 points. The junior has posted two double-doubles, both against the top-two teams in the standings, and is shooting over 50 percent from the floor (26-for-50). She is averaging 10.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in six PBC games this season. • The 14 points for Jurnee Smith is a new career-high for the sophomore. After making just one three over the first eight games this season, Smith now has connected from downtown in each of the past three games. • It was the second time this season that CSU has been out-rebounded by 10 or more. • Columbus State's 58 points were a season-low.  • The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Lady Cougars. • North Georgia has now won four straight in the series.