AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Columbus State University women's basketball team pulled out a 74-70 overtime victory at Augusta University on Saturday in Peach Belt Conference play.
CSU (10-6, 3-3 PBC) was down 60-58 with 44 seconds to play before Imani Arnold tied the game with a layup to cap off a run of seven straight points for the forward. The Jaguars turned the ball over on the following possession, but a last-second shot by Lady Cougars was no good, sending the game into overtime.
Zairya West started the OT period with a bang for the Jags by hitting a 3-pointer, but Columbus State took over from there. CSU ran off an 11-2 spurt behind five points from Chrisalyn Boston and four from Amber Abusbeih to claim a 71-65 lead with 24 seconds to go. Boston and Abusbeih were able to clinch the victory at the free throw line over the closing seconds.
The duo played a vital role in the win. Abusbeih notched a career-high with 19 points, while Boston had a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double. Arnold was the other piece to the trio after going 7-for-15 from the field to score 18 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.
"We are pushing through some things right now, so I'm super proud of our team's adversity and finding a way to win," commented head coach Matt Houser. "Chrisalyn and Imani were key parts to our gameplan, and they got rolling towards the end to help clinch the win."
It was a tight game throughout, with the score changing hands 12 times, including the score being tied on 13 occasions. The Lady Cougars scored the first nine points of the game before Augusta (9-5, 2-3) stormed back, eventually taking a 16-14 lead after the first quarter.
The margin wasn't larger than four at any point in the second quarter, with the two sides exchanging blows. The score was tied at 28 at the break after each team connected on a 3-pointer for their final bucket of the half.
The battle continued into the second half as neither side was able to pull away. Things began looking bad for Columbus State late in the fourth with Augusta taking a 58-53 lead with just 1:50 to go. However, Arnold turned it on, scoring seven straight points to help force the overtime period.
Columbus State shot 38.8% (26-for-67) from the field, but struggled from deep (4-for-20). CSU was 18-for-28 (64.3%) at the free throw line compared to a 5-for-14 (35.7%) showing from Augusta.
Kiera Howard led Augusta with 16 points and dished out eight assists. West added 15 for the Jags.
UP NEXT
The Lady Cougars return home to host No. 10 Lander University on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. It's Sea of Red Night in the Lumpkin Center with fans being encouraged to dawn their Cougar red.
GAME NOTES
• CSU improves to 3-0 in overtime games under Houser
• Columbus State improves to 45-12 all-time against Augusta
• Arnold is averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds over her last six games
• Kristyn Goshay scored all seven of her points in the third quarter
• CSU is 8-0 this season when winning the rebounding margin. The Lady Cougars out-rebounded the Jags 45-44
