FLORENCE, S.C. – No. 24-ranked Columbus State University Women's Basketball traveled to Florence, S.C. to take on Francis Marion (S.C.) on Wednesday night.
 
The Lady Cougars (2-1) slipped in a narrow defeat to the Patriots (2-1), falling 77-75 for the first loss of the season.
 
First Quarter
 
Columbus State jumped out to a 9-0 lead early with Olonna Rawls, Jasmine Rai Stevens, and Kristyn Goshay producing buckets in the paint while Bre'Lyn Snipes knocked down a trey to cap the run.
 
After a four-point answer from the Patriots, Zuzanna Rudenko scored from beyond-the-arc to give CSU a 12-4 lead at the 6:57 mark. Francis Marion would battle back to pull within a possession with four minutes to play. Both teams closed out the first period trading a few more scores as the Lady Cougars held a 22-19 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play.
 
Second Quarter
 
Both sides battled in the second quarter, trading blow after blow. Francis Marion managed to eventually capture the lead with less than five minutes to go, leading 36-34. A trey from Snipes and a lay from Rawls quickly put the Lady Cougars back into control with less than four on the clock.
 
Francis Marion would go on to tie the score two more times before the break. Letiya Reeves hit a big three with 26 seconds remaining to help boost the Cougars ahead. After a layup from the hosts, CSU held a narrow 44-43 lead at the break.
 
Third Quarter
 
The third quarter continued with the tight knit play as both teams traded control of the scoreline and drew level five times in 10 minutes. Columbus State gave up no more than a two-point deficit but managed to build a five-point edge with less than two minutes to play.
 
After a pair of free throws from FMU, a trey from Snipes and an and-one trip down the floor for Reeves gave the Lady Cougars a 62-57 lead with 1:21 on the clock. The Patriots held tough in the final seconds and scored four points to cut CSU's lead to 62-61 with a quarter to play.
 
Fourth Quarter

The Lady Cougars put the Patriots on the ropes early a 7-0 punch in the first two and a half minutes, leading 69-61. Francis Marion would go on a 12-4 run over the next few minutes to level the game at 73-73.
 
The Patriots reclaimed the lead with a pair of free throws at the 3:05 mark, but Simone Lett's layup with two and a half minutes leveled the game at 75-75. Shooting would go cold for CSU and FMU tallied just two free throws in the final two minutes to hold on to a 77-75 lead.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Columbus State finished shooting 49.2% (32-of-65) from the field, 33.3% (8-of-24) from three, and 75% (3-of-4) from the foul line.
• Lett led with 14 pints as one of three CSU players in double figures.
• Reeves and Snipes both tallied 11 points each.
• Rawls led off the glass with eight rebounds and tallied four steals, adding six points as well.
• As a team, CSU led 15-8 in steals.
• The Patriots claimed a narrow 33-32 advantage in rebounds. 

Up Next

• Columbus State is set to travel to Miles (Ala.) on Saturday for a 6 p.m. ET tip-off in Fairfield, Ala.