COLUMBUS - The fourth-seeded Columbus State University women's basketball team held off a late comeback attempt by Augusta University to grab a 60-57 victory in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday. The game was played inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center. 

The Lady Cougars (17-12) were in front for the majority of the night, but their early second-half, double-digit lead was erased in the fourth quarter after a 7-2 run pulled the Jaguars within four (48-44) of the lead with under seven to play.

Augusta (15-13) continued to battle as a 3-pointer from Zairya West made it just a one-possession game (54-51) with 2:57 to go. 

Back-to-back buckets from Olonna Rawls and Imani Arnold stretched the lead back to 58-51 with less than 90 seconds to play, but Jags wouldn't go away. AU would score six of the next seven points, including a layup from Autumn Phillips with five seconds that cut CSU's lead to 59-57.

Jurnee Smith was fouled following the in-bound but went 1-for-2 at the line allowing Augusta the chance for a last-second 3-point attempt. However, Phillips' shot was blocked by Rawls, sending the Lady Cougars into the semifinals.

"A win is a win in tournament play," commented head coach Matt Houser. "This was the first postseason game for many of our players, and I thought we handled the pressure well. Our seniors though played a big role in this win."

A trio of Lady Cougars scored 13 points, with Boston leading the way with a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. Imani Arnold and Amber Abusbeih were the other two CSU players with 13 points with the duo picking up four steals apiece. 

It was a high-scoring first quarter with Columbus State jumping out with a 20-13 lead. The two teams exchanged buckets for the first five minutes until CSU scored the final seven points to grab control. Boston had four in the spurt, while Rawls connected from deep for the final points of the quarter.

CSU remained ahead in the second, despite starting 1-for-6 over the first four minutes. However, a 3-point play by Abusbeih jumpstarted a 7-0 run by CSU, helping the Lady Cougars build a 30-19 advantage. AU responded by scoring five of the final six points of the half to go into the break down 31-24.

Columbus State started the second half by taking its first double-digit lead of the night and looked to be in command. The Jaguars did cut their deficit to five late in the quarter, but seven quick points by the Lady Cougars, including a 3-pointer from Alycia Reese had CSU up by a game-high 11 points (46-35) right before the fourth. Kennedi Manning scored the final points of the quarter for AU to set up the comeback attempt.

November Morton had 15 points for Augusta, while Manning had a game-high 12 rebounds and four blocks. 

Columbus State shot 36.5% (23-for-63) as a team but was just 3-for-15 (20.0%) from long-range. The Jaguars were 6-for-14 (42.9%) from beyond the arc and shot 37.5% (24-for-64) overall.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will head to Dahlonega, Ga. for the PBC Tournament semifinals and will face top-seeded and ninth-ranked North Georgia on Saturday. The start time will be announced on Thursday. 

GAME NOTES
• CSU improves to 44-23 overall in PBC Tournament play. Under Houser, the Lady Cougars is 2-1
• The Cougars rejected six shots on Wednesday. The six blocks are the most in a game since Feb. 2 (9 vs. USC Aiken)
• It's the third straight double-double for Boston and the sixth in the last seven games
• Columbus State remained eighth in the latest NCAA Southeast Region rankings
• Columbus State improves 44-12 all-time against Augusta and 10-1 in PBC Tournament action