Columbus State Women's Basketball Set to Host PBC/SIAC Challenge
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After playing their first three games on the road this season, the Columbus State University women's basketball team will open up their home portion of their schedule Saturday, November 25 as they take on Fort Valley State. On Sunday, CSU will also play host to Albany State. The games are a part of the first annual PBC/SIAC Challenge hosted by CSU. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. both days at the Lumpkin Center on the campus of Columbus State University.
About the Lady Cougars
Columbus State (2-1) is coming off nail biting 51-50 victory against West Georgia last Saturday. In a game that CSU never developed a rhythm in, the Lady Cougars escaped Carrollton with a win thanks in part to a Dominique Gilbert layup with 1:26 remaining in the contest. The game-winning bucket gave CSU their first lead since an 18-17 margin at the 5:52 mark in the first half. Gilbert recorded her second double-double this season as she scored 16 points and brought down a game high 12 rebounds.
As a team, Columbus State shot 36.2 percent (21-for-58) from the floor, the worst mark since last season's final game against Georgia College in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament when CSU posted a mark of 26.9 percent (14-for-52).
Along with Gilbert, newcomers Shan Basley and Letiecia Davenport have been key pieces to the Lady Cougars success so far this season. Basley is averaging 15.7 points per game which leads the team and is the third best mark in the PBC. Davenport ranks in the top-10 in rebounds per game in the conference as she is averaging 8.3 per contest.
About the Lady Wildcats
Fort Valley (0-1) will enter Saturday's match-up having only played one game so far this season. In the lone game, the Lady Wildcats fell 76-59 to Florida Tech last Saturday, November 19. FVSU had a rough day shooting the ball as they went 22-for-64 from the field including going 2-for-14 from three-point range. Shytina Harley was the leading scorer netting 11 points while 10 other Lady Wildcats scored at least one bucket.
Last season, Fort Valley went 22-10 and made the NCAA Division II Tournament falling to Arkansas Tech 102-65 in the first round. It was the third season in a row that the Lady Wildcats won 20 or more games and the 19th time in the past 20 seasons.
About the Lady Rams
Albany State (0-1) will also be entering the tournament having played just one game so far in the young season. ASU took on Valdosta State on Tuesday, November 22 and fell to the Blazers 68-57. Symone Wilkerson and April Thomas scored 17 and 16 points, respectively for the Lady Rams both going 5-for-13 from the field.
ASU outshot Valdosta State during the night but the Lady Rams turned the ball over 24 times.
Albany State is coming off a 17-12 season last year and will take on Georgia Southwestern on Saturday before playing CSU.
Series History
Columbus State trails both Fort Valley and Albany State in the all-time series histories. FVSU leads the series 4-2 over the Lady Cougars. Last season, CSU defeated the Lady Wildcats 59-57 in Fort Valley and have won two of the past three meetings. In Columbus, CSU is 1-1 all-time versus Fort Valley.
Albany State leads the all-time series 8-4 over the Lady Cougars. However, CSU has won the past four meetings and the two sides have not met since 2002 when CSU defeated the Lady Rams 59-36.
Coverage
Both games can be seen live at Columbus State's official athletic website, www.csucougars.com.
