GREENWOOD, S.C. - The Columbus State University women's basketball team couldn't slow down hot-shooting Lander suffering a 102-76 loss to the 22^nd-ranked Bearcats on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference game took place in Finis Horne Arena in Greenwood, S.C.

LU scored 57 first-half points while shooting a blistering 53.3 percent (40-for-75) from the floor for the game. The Bearcats were also nailing shots from long-range going 8-for-18 (44.4%) from three. 

"We didn't play our best defense today," said head coach Matt Houser. "When you give a team like Lander so many good looks, they are going to capitalize."

"I don't think we played poorly on offense, but we did make some uncommon errors that we need to sure up heading into Wednesday."

LeeAysia Williamson had one of her best scoring performances of the season going 9-for-20 from the floor and 7-for-11 at the line to score 29. The junior added four 3-pointers to her ledger to go along with three steals and two assists.

Aujana Dawkins (16) and Eboni Williams (11) also scored in double-figures.

The Lady Cougars shot 42.9 percent (30-for-70) overall and were 5-for-14 (35.6%) from beyond the arc. 

Columbus State will take on its second straight ranked opponent on Wednesday, Feb. 12 as No. 17 North Georgia visits the Lumpkin Center. UNG defeated CSU in mid-January. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 

Play-by-Play

First Half

Lander opened the game on a 9-0 run and never looked back building a double-digit lead by the 6:58 mark of the opening quarter. CSU wasn't struggling to score putting up 19 first-quarter points with Dawkins carrying the load. The junior went 4-for-5 over the first half to score nearly half of the team's points. With 7:19 to play until halftime, Dawkins hit a jumper to pull CSU within nine (36-27), but Lander had an answer. The Bearcats ran off the next 15 points to open a 49-27 margin. At the break, LU was closing in on 60-points, going into the break up 57-33.

Second Half

Coming out of the locker room, Columbus State played well. An 8-2 run helped cut the lead to under 20 with 6:12 on the clock in the third, but the Lander offense was too much. Following a Kaihla Carter three, the Bearcats scored eight of the final 10 points of the third. Williamson turned it on in the fourth with 15 of her 29 points. The junior's stroke was working from deep as she was 3-for-5 from 3-point range. However, Lander finished off the victory to finish the season sweep of CSU.

 

Inside the Numbers

• Williamson tied a season-high with her 29 points. It's the ninth 20 or more point performance on the season. • In both games against Lander this season, CSU committed 23 turnovers. • Lander turned the 23 turnovers into 30 points. • It was the first time since Jan. 25 that the Lady Cougars lost the rebounding advantage (44-37).  • Against teams currently not ranked in the top-25, the Lady Cougars are 15-2 this season.