DAHLONEGA, Ga. - The Columbus State University women's basketball team fell 85-53 on the road to No. 9 University of North Georgia on Saturday in Peach Belt Conference play. 

Playing with only seven players, the short-handed Lady Cougars (10-8, 3-5 PBC) couldn't slow down the hot-shooting Nighthawks. UNG shot 49.1% (28-for-57) overall, including going. 12-for-28 (12-for-28) from beyond the arc.

UNG (14-1, 8-0) began by scoring the game's first six points and never looked back, building a double-digit lead before the final minute of the first quarter. CSU cut into the margin though, scoring the final six points of the first to trail 21-15 after one. 

The Nighthawks stretched their lead in second thanks to going 5-for-8 from deep. Josie Earnhardt had nine in the quarter as North Georgia took a 42-24 halftime advantage. 

North Georgia continued to up the lead in the third before closing out the fourth by going 9-for-17 from the floor to close out the win. 

Caroline Martin (9-for-9 FTs) had a game-high 21 points with Earnhardt (5-for-7 3-pt.) adding 19. Julianne Sutton had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Nighthawks.

Imani Arnold led Columbus State with 16 points to go with seven steals. Adrieanna Brownlee (4-for-8 FG) scored a career-high 11 points. Jurnee Smith grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists.

CSU shot 30% (18-for-60) as a team and were 2-for-17 (11.8%) on 3-point attempts.

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Columbus State will return home to host Georgia Southwestern University on Wednesday, Jan 26 at 5:30 p.m. inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center.