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Women’s Basketball
Lady Cougars Claim Fifth PBC Tournament Title
GREENWOOD, S.C. - The fourth-ranked Columbus State University
women’s basketball team erased an 11-point halftime deficit and
took home the Peach Belt Conference tournament title with a 76-
61 victory over Lander on Sunday. The championship contest was
played inside Horne Arena.
Five Lady Cougars finished in double figures led by Ashley
Asouzu’s 16 points. The senior added 10 rebounds as well. Alexis
Carter recorded a third straight double-double with 15 points and
13 rebounds. Gabby Williams turned in 14 points, while Britteny
Tatum tallied 13. Narshanda Malone came off the bench and
scored 12.
Asouzu and Tatum were named to the All-PBC Tournament
team, while Carter was the tournament Most Valuable Player.
With the victory, Columbus State earns the PBC’s automatic bid
into the upcoming NCAA Southeast Regional.
“Lander dictated the game over the first 20 minutes,” head
coach Anita Howard said. “We had a good talk at halftime and
came out looking more like ourselves in the third quarter.
“This group has fought really hard this season and this is
another step on the journey toward our ultimate goal.”
Behind 29 percent shooting, Columbus State (28-1) trailed
38-27 at the halftime break. The switch flipped starting the third
quarter however, and the Lady Cougars stormed back.
Asouzu and Williams scored on CSU’s opening two possessions
of the quarter to jumpstart the offense. After a pair of Lander free
throws, Tatum kicked off a 10-4 run that brought the Lady Cougars back
within three.
Lander (24-7) got a bucket to slow the run momentarily, but CSU
scored the next six points with Tatum pushing Columbus State in front
at the three-minute mark.
CSU gave up the lead on a 3-pointer before eight straight gave it a
six-point edge.
The Lady Cougars opened up a double digit lead midway through
the fourth, but Lander had one last push left. The Bearcats cut the
margin back to five, 66-61, with 3:26 to play.
Two free throws from Keyrra Gillespie and a 3 from Carter sealed
the deal though and wrapped up CSU’s fifth conference tournament
championship.
Columbus State finished the game at 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from
the field. The Lady Cougars were outstanding at the foul line, knocking
down 25-of-30 attempts.
Lander was 33.9 percent (19-for-56) from the floor and 9-of-23
from the 3-point line.
ELITE EIGHT BOUND! Columbus State Women’s Basket-
ball Takes Southeast Region Crown
COLUMBUS – In front of more than 1,700 people, the fourth-ranked
and top-seeded Columbus State University women’s basketball
captured the Southeast Region championship with an 86-75 win over
2016-17