COLUMBUS – The Georgia Southwestern State University Women’s Basketball team lost 67-54 on Jan. 30 to the Columbus State Lady Cougars (20-1, 11-1 PBC ) in the Lumpkin Center. GSW is now 10-9 overall and 4-8 in the Peach Belt Confernce.

Tiara Thompson lead the Lady ‘Canes with 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. GSW shot 44.8% in the first half and had eleven rebounds. Columbus State shot 51.6% and had seventeen rebounds. Shanedra Lockett started the Lady ‘Canes off with a 3-pointer to take the lead by one. Two minutes later Thompson put in a 3-pointer to take the lead by two. Thompson put in another three pointer, after Columbus made two lay ups, to take the lead back again by one point. Kenyona Armstrong put in a jump shot to give GSW a three point advantage and after Columbus laid one up, Thompson put one in to keep the three point lead. Columbus put in two jump shots to take the lead by one but Thompson sunk a basket to take it back. After two jump shots from the Cougars, Emili Russ put in a jump shot and Yvonna Dunkley put in a 3-pointer to gain a two-point lead. Columbus tied it up with a basket and Dunkley put in another 3-pointer to take the lead back by three with 7:20 left on the clock.

The Cougars came out and made the next five baskets with four free throws and a trey to build a four point gap. Russ made a basket to try and narrow it, but Columbus answered with a 3-pointer to take the lead 30-25 with 5:03 left. Danisha Green made a pair of free throws to give GSW two points and Columbus responded with a jumper, lay-up, and a free throw to give them an eight point lead with 3:07 to go. Russ made a jump shot and the Cougars answered with a trey. Lockett sank two jump shots at the end, but Columbus tacked on a lay-up to keep the lead by seven going into the second.

The momentum from the first half did not last into the second. GSW shot 25% and Columbus dropped to 24.2%. The Lady ‘Canes picked up fifteen rebounds and the Lady Cougars had twenty four. Both teams put in jumpers in the first minute but Columbus made two free throws to take a nine point lead. Ja’Quasha Sesler put in a basket for GSW but Columbus got a jump shot and a 3-pointer to take a twelve point lead with 13:46 to go. Thompson, Green and Shatoria Hudson all put in field goals for GSW but the Cougars responded with a jump shot and two free throws to lead by ten.

Dunkley put in a basket but Columbus responded with a 3-pointer for an eleven point lead with with 9:15 left. Columbus put in three more jump shots and Thompson added a lay up and a free throw to bring the score to 62-48 with 4:30 to go. Thompson put in another basket and both Hudson and Lockett made their free throws but Columbus added five points in the last 1:21 to keep the lead and win by seven.

Columbus out rebounded GSW 49-31 and both teams had 15 turnovers.

The Lady ‘Canes are back on the road Wednesday, Feb. 4, facing the University of Montevallo at 6:30 p.m.