COLUMBUS - Facing its second straight ranked opponent, the Columbus State University women's basketball team dropped a 72-54 decision to No. 15 North Georgia on Wednesday. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Lumpkin Center.

After CSU (15-6, 10-5) scored the opening bucket of the game, North Georgia would use an 18-0 run to race out in front. The Lady Cougars would never be able to recover, getting only as close as six (32-26) the rest of the way.

"North Georgia did what they wanted to do which was to take our energy away early," commented head coach Matt Houser. "Whenever you get punched in the face early, it's hard to rally, especially against a team of the caliber of North Georgia."

"We just faced two of the best two teams in the region, and now we have to start playing our style of ball again. We just need to start picking up wins again starting this Saturday."

Behind a 7-of-8 shooting performance, Aryan Dozier scored a season-high 15 points to pace the Columbus State attack. The sophomore added four rebounds and two steals. Aujana Dawkins had 12 points and seven rebounds for the Lady Cougars.

Columbus State shot 42.1 percent (24-for-57) overall, but was 0-for-10 from beyond the arc. The Lady Cougars were 6-for-12 at the free throw line.

The Lady Cougars will look to snap a two-game losing streak on Saturday as they take on Flagler in St. Augustine, Fla. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CSU defeated FC 65-53 in Columbus back in mid-January.

Play-by-Play

First Half

LeeAysia Williamson hit the opening bucket of the to put Columbus State on top, but it was all North Georgia from there. An 18-0 run quickly turned the tide in the favor of the Nighthawks before the end of the period. A three-point play by Dozier snapped the six-plus minute scoreless stretch by CSU. A three by Abby Hubert and a jumper by Julianne Sutton gave UNG a 25-11 lead after the opening 10 minutes. The Lady Cougars played well in the second quarter beginning the period on an 8-2 run to pull within eight of the lead (27-19). CSU hammered the ball into the paint with Dozier recording four more points. Back-to-back buckets from Dawkins at the 2:07 mark made it 32-26 with just over two minutes to go. UNG added a couple of points to go into the half of 35-28.

Second Half

North Georgia slowly began inching away in the third. A 10-4 spurt over the opening four minutes of the quarter put the lead back into double-figures (45-32) before CSU stopped the rally. The Lady Cougars wouldn't let the game get too out of reach entering the fourth down 55-42. Dawkins hit a jumper 20 seconds into the final quarter to make it 55-44, but eight quick points, including two 3-pointers, from North Georgia, pushed the lead to 19 (63-44). Columbus State was unable to rally falling in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

 

Inside the Numbers

• With her four blocks, Chrisalyn Boston became the fourth player in Columbus State history to reach the 100-career block mark. The junior now has 102 in her two-plus year career. • It was the first time this season that the Lady Cougars didn't hit a 3-pointer. • It's the second game in a row that CSU was out-rebounded by seven rebounds. Prior to Saturday, the Lady Cougars had won the battle on the glass in three straight games. • North Georgia was 10-for-13 overall and 4-for-5 from three in the first quarter. • Columbus State had 38 points in the paint. • UNG has won five straight in the series.