VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Columbus State University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start on Friday, falling 78-51 to No. 23 Valdosta State University in the VSU Thanksgiving Classic at The Complex.

The Lady Cougars (5-1) shot under 30% (10-for-36) for the first three quarters, helping the Blazers to hand CSU its first loss of the year.

Imani Arnold was CSU's leading scorer with 15 points after a 4-for-8 shooting performance. She added seven rebounds and four steals. 

It was a 10-10 game before Valdosta State got hot towards the end of the first quarter. VSU proceeded to score the next 16 points and finished off a 26-5 run to grab a 36-15 lead. 

Valdosta State (3-1) held a 20-plus point lead over the second half, but CSU did find its shooting stroke in the fourth quarter going 3-for-9 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will take on Eckerd College on Saturday in the second and final day of the VSU Thanksgiving Classic at 2 p.m.

GAME NOTES
• It was CSU's first game against a ranked opponent this season
• Columbus State only had four assists 
• Kwajelin Farrar was 7-of-11 from the field and had 15 points for the Blazers
• The Lady Cougar bench had 23 points
• VSU outrebounded CSU 46-33. The -13 rebound margin is a season-low for Columbus State