AMERICUS, Ga.- The Georgia Southwestern Women’s basketball team, now 9-3 and 3-2 in the Peach Belt Conference, suffered their first home loss Wednesday night against the undefeated Columbus State University Lady Cougars who improve to 14-0, 5-0 in the PBC and are currently ranked No. 17 in NCAA Division II.

Seniors Shatoria Hudson and Shanedra Lockett lead the Lady ‘Canes in points and assists. Lockett came into the game with 499 GSW career points and put up 18 points and two assists against the Cougars to give her just over 500 points as a Lady ‘Cane. Husdon had 19 points including a 3-pointer and added two assists.

Lockett scored the first two baskets for GSW to push her over the 500 point mark in her GSW career and to gave GSW the lead. Hudson made a lay up and the Cougars put in a layup to tie the game 6-6 at the fifteen minute mark. Hudson put in a 3-pointer to take back the lead for GSW Keishundra Jackson made a jump shot followed by another lay up by Hudson to give GSW a five point cushion. The Cougars came back with two made free throws, four layups and a 3-pointer to give Columbus an eight point advantage with six minutes left.

Yvonna Dunkley put in two layups for GSW followed by a made free throw from Tiara Thompson, a lay up from Kenyona Armstrong and a lay up from Hudson to take the lead again 23-22 at the 3:54 mark. Thompson had a layup and Dunkley made a free throw but the Cougars came back with three free throws and a layup to finish off the first with a one point lead, 26-25.

The second half started where the first left off, point for point. Columbus made the first layup to take a three point lead but Lockett put in a jump shot, lay up and 3-pointer all within one minute to give the Lady ‘Canes a four point lead and Thompson put in a lay up to make it a six point lead. The Cougars were able to put in a lay up and jump shot but still trailed behind by four. Armstrong made a free throw at the 15:08 mark to give GSW a five point lead but Columbus came back with 3 layups, 3 made free throws and a 3-pointer to take the lead back 44-37 at the 13:16 mark.

The fast pace momentum was kept the rest of the second with the lead and point advantage swaying either way. With ten minutes left GSW was only behind by three when Hudson made a lay up and at the 7:28 mark Lockett was able to tie it up with a layup. A few seconds later Columbus put in a layup to take back the lead but Lockett tied it up once more with another lay up. Sesler put in a layup to take the two point lead but forty seconds later the Cougars tied it up with a layup and put in another to take the lead. Hudson put up another layup to tie it for the fourth time in 2 1/2 minutes.

The Cougars put in two jump shots, a lay up and a free throw to take the lead 66-61 with 2:41 left on the clock. Lockett put in three free throws and the Lady ‘Canes only trailed by four with fifty-one seconds to go. Both teams made lay ups in the last 25 seconds to keep the point gap at four and the Cougars took the win, 70-66.

The Lady ‘Canes put up a tough fight and proved to be hard competitors against the Cougars only allowing them a largest lead of nine points and changed the lead nine times.

GSW’s bench points, 29, were over seven times that of Columbus’ four but the Cougars out rebounded the Lady ‘Canes, 55-37.

The Lady ‘Canes are on the road Saturday January 10 to face Young Harris College at 1:30 p.m.