Saturday, January 27, 2007

LADY SAINTS FALL TO COLUMBUS STATE ON THE ROAD
Singleton paces North Georgia with 24 points and nine rebounds

Columbus, GA – North Georgia College & State University fell short in the bid to upset Columbus State, falling 70-60 in Peach Belt Conference play at the Lumpkin Center Saturday afternoon.

Playing short-handed in the afternoon clash due to junior guard Megan Huffman sitting out, junior forward Kourtney Singleton provided a spark for the Lady Saints. The junior from Decatur scored 16 of the Lady Saints first 21 points of the game with a variety of shots - featuring anything from free throws to putbacks to turnaround jumpers to shots while falling to the floor to buzzer beaters to spinning lay-ups.

The Lady Saints held the lead for a majority of the first half until back-to-back three-pointers by Monica Sicka and Kayleigh Epps, that gave Columbus State a 23-19 lead with 6:28 remaining in the first half. The two three-pointers by the Cougars sparked an 8-0 run that lead to a 25-19 lead for the home team.

However, North Georgia responded to the run with stellar interior defense led by junior forward Rachael Jolley. On two consecutive trips down the floor for Columbus State, Jolley stymied the Cougars inside game with blocked shots leading to Singleton ending the run with a pair of free throws with 4:44 remaining. The free throws trimmed the lead to 25-21. Sophomore point guard Lindsey Kitchens continued to trim the lead for North Georgia, draining a three-pointer with 4:04 to go in the first half. The basket trimmed the lead to 25-24 late in the first half.

The next trip down the floor, Singleton stole an entry pass and gave the Lady Saints a chance to take the lead with 3:04 remaining in the opening half of play. North Georgia couldn't convert on that trip but did on the next defensive possession, when they forced another turnover. Freshman center Porsha White stole an entry pass, and she was immediately fouled, sending her to the line for a one-and-one situation. The freshman from Hephzibah calmly stepped to the line and drained the two free throws to give North Georgia a 26-25 lead with just 2:44 remaining in the first half.

Unfortunately, Columbus State was able to drain two free throws, by Shanrika Hardeman, with 1:32 left to play in the first half - taking a 27-26 lead. North Georgia came right back down the floor, getting it to sophomore forward Syretha Marble. Marble cut to the basket and was fouled by Columbus State, sending her to the line for two free throws with just 1:25 to play. She converted one of two free throws, tying the game at 27-27. On the next trip down the floor, Singleton was able to find a cutting Marble who drained the lay-up and was fouled. She calmly drained the free throw, giving North Georgia a 30-27 lead with just 46 seconds to play in the opening half.

Columbus State had a chance to tie the game with 2.1 seconds remaining in the first half, but Marble made sure the Lady Saints kept their three-point advantage heading into the locker room. Arlanderia Whitlock had a chance for the Cougars on a fastbreak, but Marble came out of nowhere and sent the ball flying into the stands with a block sustaining the three-point advantage.

The two teams came out of the locker room trying to make a statement to one another, with the Lady Saints gaining the upperhand through the first 10 minutes of the last stanza. Kitchens made the biggest shot of the afternoon for North Georgia as she drained a three-pointer and was fouled on the play. She converted the free throw and gave the Lady Saints a six-point lead with 14:44 to play.

Columbus State went on a 6-0 run over a span of 2:30 in the second half, taking a 54-46 lead with just 5:05 remaining in the contest. Tamara Peterson scored three of the Cougars points during the run, hitting a free throw and converting a steal into a lay-up. Ashley Stafford hit a short jumper with 7:19 to play, igniting the Columbus State run. The run was completed when Cherwonna Walker hit one-of-two free throws, giving Columbus State a 54-46 lead with 5:05 to play.

However, North Georgia countered with their own 5-0 run to trim the lead to just three with 4:12 remaining in the contest. Trailing by eight points, Marble connected on the back end of a two shot foul, trimming the lead to 54-47 with 4:48 to play. The Lady Saints answered again on their next trip down the floor when Singleton took a feed from Marble and cut to the basket, trimming the lead to just 54-49 with 4:23 to play. They finished off the run with two free throws courtesy of Singleton with 4:12 to play, trimming the lead to 54-51. Unfortunately, that is as close as North Georgia would get in the final minutes of play as they traded baskets with the Cougars.

Columbus State shot just 32.9 (25-for-76) percent from the floor, and just 25 (6-for-24) percent from behind the arc. They did, however, shoot 73.7 (14-for-19) percent from the free throw line.

North Georgia shot 36.4 (16-for-44) percent from the floor, and 27.8 (5-for-18) percent from behind the arc. They shot 79.3 (23-for-29) percent from the free throw line.

Columbus State (14-5, 6-2 PBC) was led by Hardeman with 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Stafford added 12 and Sicka 11 in the win.

North Georgia was paced by Singleton with 24 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor and 14-of-16 shooting from the free throw line. She also grabbed nine rebounds for the Lady Saints. Marble added 11 points and seven rebounds. Jolley contributed nine points and nine rebounds.

North Georgia (8-11, 3-6 PBC) returns to action Wednesday night against USC Upstate at 5:30 pm. The game is part of a doubleheader and will be part of NGCSU Spirit Night at Memorial Hall.

-NGCSU-

Box Score

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