The first quarter was very competitive, with Columbus State (2-4, 2-4) answering nearly every Lander basket. After Olonna Rawls hit a 3-pointer to make it 8-6, a 9-3 Bearcat run gave the hosts a 17-9 lead with 4:40 to play in the quarter. CSU responded, scoring seven of the next nine points to cut the deficit to 3, 19-16. Three different players scored in the spurt, including a Jurnee Smith 3-pointer. Rawls hit her second trey of the first for CSU's final points as Lander took a 25-19 lead into the second. Columbus State pulled within four on two occasions early before the Bearcats extended the lead into double figures. Seven straight points by LU made it 38-25 at the 4:19 mark, but CSU didn't let things get away.  Buckets by Aryan Dozier and Madi Phillips and three free throws by Amber Abusbeih pulled Columbus State within six, 38-32, with 2:29 to play in the opening half. However, Lander scored the final nine points to go into the break ahead 47-35.

Emilia Tenbrock had the first four points of the second half as the Lady Cougars again trimmed the margin back into single-digits. Columbus State was as close as seven on two occasions midway through the quarter. A Chrisalyn Boston layup with 4:25 on the clock made it a 52-45 game before a 10-3 run by the Bearcats pushed the lead to 14, 62-48. In the fourth, Lander took full control as nine straight points early on increased the lead to 23, 74-51, three minutes in. LU cruised the rest of the way to secure the win.

• Rawls posted her second career 20-plus point game after leading the Lady Cougars with 21. She was 8-for-16 from the floor, including knocking down three 3-pointers. The freshman added five rebounds, three steals and two assists. 
• Fellow freshmen Abusbeih and Tenbrock were also in double-figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. 
• As a team, Columbus State shot 39.7% (23-for-58) and was 6-for-19 (31.6%) from 3-point range. The Lady Cougars struggled at the free throw line going just 10-for-20. Abusbeih made six of the 10 successful free throws.
• Four Lander players scored in double-digits. Zamiya Passmore had a game-high 21 with Makaila Cange and Miriam Recarte adding 17. Jakiyah Parker was the final Bearcat in double figures with 10. 
• Cange, who was named the PBC Player of the Week before the game, had 16 rebounds to add to her double-double total on the year.
• Lander outrebounded Columbus State 42-35.

•Rawls made eight shots on Monday, tying a season-high by any Lady Cougar player. Rawls also accomplished the feat against Flagler College (Jan. 16). while Boston also made eight field goals against Young Harris on Saturday. 
• Over the last four games, Rawls is averaging 17.5 points to go along with 2.8 steals. 
• Boston continues to climb in the Columbus State record book. The senior is now second all-time in blocks in a career with 122 after two more swats against the Bearcats. 
• CSU tied a season-low with nine assists after tying a season-high with 17 against Young Harris College on Saturday. 
• Lander has now won four straight against Columbus State.
• LU also extended its home winning streak to 25 games.

Columbus State will play one final time in the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center this season as Georgia Southwestern University visits Columbus on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. with attendance limited to CSU family members.

SCHEDULE NOTE
The Peach Belt Conference announced an additional game for the Lady Cougars on Monday, March 1. CSU will travel to Americus, Ga. to take on the Hurricanes to close out the season.