COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University women's basketball team began the new year in style on Saturday flying pass Francis Marion 74-51. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Lumpkin Center in Columbus.

After going down 6-0 to open the game, an 11-0 run set the tone for Columbus State as the Lady Cougars never looked back. CSU led by as many as 25 in the contest. 

Three Lady Cougars scored in double figures paced by 20 from junior LeeAysia Williamson. In the performance, Williamson surpassed the 1,000-career point mark between CSU and NAIA St. Andrews after nailing a 3-pointer to close out the first quarter. Eboni Williams and Kaihla Carter added 16 and 12 points, respectively.

"This was the exact outcome I was looking for returning from a long layoff," said Columbus State head coach Matt Houser. "We were focused from the get go, and I'm super proud of the effort from the girls."

"The whole program would like to congratulate LeeAysia on a terrific accomplishment. She is an outstanding player and we are lucky to have her here at Columbus State." 

Columbus State (7-2, 2-1 PBC) forced 25 turnovers while holding the Patriots to a 14.3 shooting percentage (3-for-21) from beyond the arc. 

As a team, CSU shot 38.2 percent (29-for-76) and 8-for-23 from three. 

The Lady Cougars will look to carry the momentum into Milledgeville, Ga. as they face off against Georgia College on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. 
 

Play-by-Play

First Half

It took a few possessions for Columbus State to shake off the rust, but the Lady Cougars never looked back after Williamson put them on the board with a pair of free throws at the 6:07 mark to cut Francis Marion's early lead to 6-2. The free throws started an 11-0 run with CSU pounding the ball down low with six early points in the paint. FMU was able to halt the run and as a layup from Scarlett Gilmore made it an 11-10 game with under three to play in the first. However, that would be the closest the Patriots would be to the lead for the remainder of the game. Over the final 2:41 of the opening quarter, CSU outscored Francis Marion 13-3, including Williamson scoring the final five points of the quarter to put CSU ahead 24-13. The Lady Cougars continued to stretch the lead in the second. Back-to-back threes from Valeria Merlos and Carter made it 30-16 while Carter added to the spurt with a layup to extend the margin to 16 at the 4:49 mark. Needing a spark, Francis Marion found a rhythm and scored six of the final eight points of the half to make it 38-30 at the break.

Second Half

Columbus State put all hopes of a comeback to rest early in the third quarter by scoring the first eight points of the half to extend the lead back to 16, 46-30. Aujana Dawkins and Williams traded baskets in the run. Late in the quarter, CSU found the stroke from deep with Williams and Williamson connecting from downtown to push the advantage to 56-35. In the fourth, the margin stayed above 20 from the majority of the session. A layup at the 1:23 mark from Jurnee Smith gave Columbus State its largest lead of the night at 74-49.

 

Inside the Numbers

• Columbus State avoided back-to-back home losses for the first time in seven years with the win.  • It's the third time this season that the Lady Cougars have held their opponents to just three made 3-pointers. • Columbus State scored 29 points off of turnovers.  • Columbus State set season-highs in 3-point attempts (23) and steals (16).  • Carter had a career night for the Lady Cougars. She tied her career-high in points with 12 while leading the team with a career-best 12 rebounds. It's the first double-double of the senior's career. She also dished out a game-high five assists.  • Carter and Williams each had season-high four steals.  • Williamson now has five 20-point games this season. She leads the PBC in scoring averaging 18.1 points per game.  • The Lady Cougars have won six of the last seven meetings against Francis Marion in Columbus.  • Francis Marion is now 5-4 and 1-2 in PBC play this season.