PEMBROKE, N.C. - The Columbus State University women's basketball team held UNC Pembroke to a 17.2 shooting percentage in a 57-48 victory over the Braves Saturday afternoon. The Peach Belt Conference game took place in the Jones Center in Pembroke, N.C.
The Lady Cougar (17-7, 12-6 PBC) defense was stifling all day long allowing UNCP to make just 10 field goals, including four in the second half. UNCP stayed in the game from the free throw line, making 24-of-37 attempts.
"What can I say about this team," commented head coach Matt Houser. "They just keep finding ways to win ballgames, and it's amazing to watch as a head coach. Our senior leadership on this team is outstanding and we wouldn't be where we are at this point in the season without them."
"Playing with shorthanded presents so many challenges, but the players have been able to adapt to any style of play that the staff has asked them to."
A trio of Columbus State players scored in double-figures led by Kaihla Carter and Eboni Williams. The senior duo both scored 13 while dishing out three assists. Carter also had six rebounds.
Aujana Dawkins was unstoppable on the glass grabbing a season-high 19 rebounds. She added 12 points for her ninth double-double of the year.
Columbus State shot 38.2 percent (21-for-55) overall while connecting on 5-of-15 (33.3%) 3-pointers. The Lady Cougars struggled at the charity stripe going 10-for-24 (41.7%).Â
Up Next
Columbus State will host Georgia Southwestern in the home regular-season finale on Wednesday, Feb. 26. It will be Senior Night for the Lady Cougars. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside the Lumpkin Center.
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| Play-by-Play |
| First Half |
UNC Pembroke (11-15, 6-12) jumped out to a 7-2 lead thanks to four free throws and a 3-pointer from Alcenia Purnell, but Columbus State would start enforcing its will on the Braves. Over the next eight-plus minutes, the Lady Cougars would keep the Braves off the board, going on a 17-0 run to hold a 19-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. CSU was hot from beyond the arc during the stretch hitting three 3-pointers, including two from Carter. Eboni Williams also added five points helping Columbus State build its lead. In the second, Toxiana Wilson hit a jumper at the 7:40 mark to make it 21-11 before UNCP rallied. Seven quick points cut the margin to just three (21-18). Back-to-back buckets from Chrisalyn Boston and Dawkins extended the lead back to seven before another three from Williams with 28 seconds remaining in the half had CSU up eight (28-20). An Aliyah Farmer layup sent the game into the half at 28-22.
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| Second Half |
Columbus State's lead hung around 10 points in the early going of the third quarter until UNC Pembroke made things tight. With the Lady Cougars leading 36-28, six straight points by the Braves brought them within two (36-34) of the lead. Over the final 2:36 of the quarter, neither side made a field goal with Columbus State taking a 39-37 lead into the fourth. Aryan Dozier scored the first four points of the final period while Carter hit her third 3-pointer of the day to give CSU a 48-39 advantage with under five to play. Dozier gave the Lady Cougars a 10-point lead with 3:58 to play, but five straight free throws by the Braves made it a five-point game with 3:13 to go. The margin was still at three with 80 seconds left before Carter and Williams upped the lead back to seven (54-47) in the final minute.
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| Inside the Numbers |
- It was the second time this season that Dawkins had 19 rebounds. It's tied for the second-best single-game rebounding effort in the PBC this season.Â
- The 17.2 percent shooting percentage by UNC Pembroke was the lowest mark by an opponent in a decade. Last season, UNCP shot 21.4 percent against Columbus State in Pembroke last season.
- The last time Columbus State held an opponent to under 20 percent shooting was on Dec. 6, 2016 against Albany State. That night, ASU shot 19.4 percent against the Lady Cougars.
- It's the second time this season Columbus State held a team to 48 points. CSU defeated Georgia College 68-48 in Columbus on Jan. 8.
- CSU improves to 8-3 on the road this season.
- Columbus State was ranked ninth in the initial NCAA Southeast Regional rankings. The top-eight teams will advance to the NCAA Tournament.Â
- The Lady Cougars have won 11 straight over UNC Pembroke. CSU leads the all-time series 34-6.
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