CSU Holds Off Lady Jags, 71-64

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Columbus State held Augusta State scoreless for the first 5:27 of the game Wednesday and went to a 71-64 Peach Belt Conference victory over the Lady Jaguars in the Lumpkin Center.

With the loss, ASU dropped to 18-8 overall and 12-7 in the PBC. The victory pulled CSU (16-10) even with the Lady Jags at 12-7 in the league, creating a five-team logjam at second place in the conference standings. ASU, CSU, USC Aiken, Clayton State and Lander all trail league leader Francis Marion by one game heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

In a matchup of the No. 3 and No. 4-ranked teams in the latest South Atlantic Region poll, ASU missed its first five shots and suffered six turnovers in the first five-plus minutes of the game. The Lady Jags fell behind 14-0 before Brittany Jarrard’s layup got ASU on the scoreboard at the 14:33 mark.

ASU trailed by as many as 15 and went into halftime down 31-22. Despite the cold start, the Lady Jags rallied in the second half to actually take the lead. Junior Tracey Paschal capped an 11-0 run with back-to-back layups that put ASU ahead 37-35 with 13:52 remaining.

Just as quickly, CSU answered to tie the game at 37-all. The Lady Jags forced two more ties before Columbus went ahead to stay. ASU got within two before the Lady Cougars pulled away, leading by as much as 12 down the stretch.

Nicole Mealing paced the Lady Jags with 12 points off the bench, with Paschal adding 11 points and Porsha White chipping in 10.

Maria Grimes booked a game-high 17 points for CSU and Turelle Jones notched 16. Monica Jones netted 14 points and Ashley Stafford posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

The Lady Jags host Georgia Southwestern for Senior Day on Saturday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.