AMERICUS, Ga. – Columbus State women's basketball traveled to Americus, Ga. to take on Georgia Southwestern in Peach Belt Conference action on Wednesday night.
 
The Lady Cougars (14-5, 8-2PBC) snuck away from the Hurricanes (10-8, 6-4 PBC) in a 68-67 win in the Storm Dome, moving to a three-game winning streak.
 
First Quarter
 
Columbus State responded to GSW's opening score with a trey from Jasmine Rai Stevens before going on an 11-4 run over the next few minutes to lead 14-6. The hosts scored a layup and one more free throw in the period while the Lady Cougars closed out the period with four free throws from Olonna Rawls to lead 18-9.
 
Second Quarter
 
Free throws from both teams opened things in the second quarter followed by a layup from Haelim Adle moved CSU's lead to 22-11. The Hurricanes gained some momentum with a big 16-4 run over the next handful of minutes to pull the deficit down to just one point, behind 28-27 with two minutes to play. Scores from Zuzanna Rudenko and Kristyn Goshay sealed the half with a 32-27 Columbus State lead.
 
Third Quarter
 
Georgia Southwestern swarmed the Lady Cougars out of the break, opening with a 10-run to lead by five points. GSW held control of the lead for the period by besting CSU 22-13 in the third period, shooting 6-of-14 from the field in the process.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
The Lady Cougars quickly leveled the game at 49-49 within the first 50 seconds, but the Hurricanes pulled back away with 7-1 run to lead by six with seven minutes to play. The Lady Cougars clawed their way back into the game and fought with a 15-10 stretch of scoring capped by a three-pointer from Rawls to pull within one point. With less than 15 seconds, it came down to a tying layup from Rawls and an "and-one" play to secure the win.
 
Inside the Numbers

• The Lady Cougars finished the night shooting for 40.7% (24-of-59) from the field, 22.2% (4-of-18) from three, and 76.2% (16-of-21) from the foul line.
• Three Lady Cougars scored in double figures with Rawls leading the way with 19 points followed by 10 points from Rudenko and Stevens.
• GSW led off the glass 39-26.
• CSU's defense took advantage of GSW's 16 turnovers, scoring 16 points in the process with six steals as a team.

Up Next

• Columbus State returns home for a big matchup against No. 5-ranked North Georgia on Saturday afternoon at the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center for a 1:30 p.m. ET tip.