“This was a great way to open the season up,” said head coach Jonathan Norton. “Our girls played hard all game against a very good Barry team that made the NCAA Tournament last year. We got a bit sloppy at the end, but that was my fault for not having us ready for their run-and-jump which we didn’t see from them yesterday. Our girls responded though and we can move forward with a W.”
The two sides traded baskets throughout the first half with neither team taking a lead bigger than four points until a CSU run late in the first half. Down by two points with 3:31 remaining in the first half, the Lady Cougars closed out the half on a 10-0 run with four different ladies scoring during that period. Tandria Milton led all scorers in the first half with 10 points while Baleigh Coley and Dominique Gilbert chipped in with six points.
Half number two was very similar to the first although Columbus State was able to extend its lead to 13 points three separate times with Marah Wright’s layup with 5:34 remaining in the contest giving them their final 13 point lead.
At that point, Barry went on a 16-2 run in the next 4:09 to take a one-point lead. Adrienne Hicks scored four points and Danielle DeBerry chipped in five points during the spurt. DeBerry hit a three-pointer cutting the CSU lead to 48-47 with 1:29 remaining. She then stole an in-bound pass and layed it up for a one-point Barry lead with 1:25 to go.
The Lady Cougars responded with Wright scoring the game-winner with 25 seconds remaining. Gilbert grabbed a rebound off a Barry miss and was fouled immediately. She calmly sank both free throws to ice the game. CSU’s defensive pressure in the final 12 seconds kept the Bucs from getting off a potential game-tying shot.
“Our girls were tremendous in the final minute and executed out of the timeouts,” stated Norton. “Dominique knocking down those free throws was big and the defensive pressure after their timeout was fantastic.”
Gilbert posted a double-double for CSU scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while also recording five blocks. Milton and Wrigh had 10 and nine points, respectively. Asha Alexander had a game-high five assists. DeBerry led a trio of Bucs in double-figures with 12 points. Yvonne Houston and Hicks each added 11 points apiece.
CSU held Barry to 17-of-57 shooting from the floor (29.8%) while shooting 40% from the field themselves. The Lady Cougars also shot 45% from three-point range.
Columbus State will return to the hardwood on Tuesday, November 23 against Valdosta State. Tip-off is schedule for 6:00 p.m. at the Lumpkin Center.
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