COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University women's basketball team fell to the University of North Georgia (5-0, 2-0 PBC) 73-50 on Wednesday evening. The Peach Belt Conference contest was played inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center in Columbus.
Despite leading 26-24 at the half, CSU (2-2, 2-2 PBC) couldn't slow the Nighthawks down over the final 20 minutes of the game. UNG shot 62.5% (20-for-32) from the field in the half to open up a comfortable lead and to remain unbeaten.
| How It Happened |
| First Half |
Columbus State started off strong holding a 5-0 lead after the first two minutes of the game, thanks in part to two jumpers from Chrisalyn Boston. The Nighthawks would eventually get their offense clicking, making their first field goal of the game at the 6:48 mark, but wouldn't take their first lead of the night until there was 1:37 left to play in the opening quarter following a 3-pointer from Josie Earnhardt. Back-to-back buckets from Emilia Tenbrock helped CSU pull ahead 16-15 at the end of the first. Freshman Amber Abusbeih played a vital role in the second keeping CSU in front. The Staten Island, NY native scored six of the nine Lady Cougar points in the period while a Boston jumper made it 26-24 at the half.
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| Second Half |
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It was all North Georgia in the third. The Nighthawks scored 28 points, thanks to knocking down four 3-pointers, as they raced out to a 52-37 lead over the Lady Cougars. UNG stayed hot over the fourth posting a 61.5% (8-for-13) mark from the floor to close out the night. The Nighthawks had a game-high 25-point advantage, 73-48, before Abusbeih ended the scoring with a pair of free throws.
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| Box Score Breakdown |
• Abusbeih led Columbus State with 10 points. It was her first double-digit scoring performance in her collegiate career.
• Boston, Rawls, Tenbrock and Jurnee Smith scored eight points each while Aryan Dozier added six points.
• Rawls scored the only 3-pointer of the game for the Cougars. For the game, CSU was 1-for-17 from outside the 3-point line.
• Boston recorded a season-high five blocks for the Cougars. After Wednesday's game, she ranks second in the PBC with 12 rejections. |
| Cougar Notes |
• The Lady Cougars shot 53.85% (7-for-13) from the field in the first quarter.
• Both teams committed 18 turnovers however, UNG outscored CSU 28-12 off the mistakes.
• After starting the game 2-for-11 on their 3-point attempts, the Nighthawks were 8-for-22 from beyond the arch. |
| Up Next |
| Columbus State will travel to Aiken, S.C. on Saturday, Jan. 23 for another PBC matchup against USC Aiken (0-4, 0-3 PBC). Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no fan attendance at Saturday's game. |
