DAHLONEGA | After falling behind 15-1 in the opening minutes of the game, the University of North Georgia women's basketball team pulled off an improbable comeback over the nation's 13th-ranked team, ended its two-game skid with a thrilling 73-70 Peach Belt Conference overtime victory over Columbus State Wednesday evening in Memorial Hall.
 
The Cougars led throughout regulation until the 3:24 mark of the fourth quarter when Kelsey Hutchins hit a 3-point basket from the top of the key to tie the contest, 61-61.
 
CSU's Gabby Williams would hit a jumper with 37 seconds left to send the game into overtime, but it would ultimately not prevent the Nighthawks from stealing the game away. North Georgia outscored Columbus State 10-7 in the overtime period, hitting eight free throws to seal the victory.
 
NOTES
-The Nighthawk victory snaps Columbus State's nine-game winning streak. The Cougars entered the game having won 19 consecutive regular season conference games, a mark that ended tonight in Memorial Hall.

- North Georgia shot 44% (11-of-25) from the field in the second half and overtime after shooting 9-of-31 (29 percent) in the first 20 minutes.
 
- Hutchins finished the contest with a game-high 28 points, including three 3-pointers. The three shots from beyond the arc were her most 3-pointers in a single game made in her career. Hutchins has also scored 20+ points seven times this season and has scored in double figures in 14 consecutive contests.
 
- Cierra Jackson recorded her ninth double-double of the season and 15th of her career, tallying 13 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. She hit 9-of-12 free throws in the contest.
 
- Julie McKie finished with 11 points and Jordan Livesay recorded 10 points in the win.
 
- Michelle Mitchell led the Cougars with 24 points on 9-of-21 shooting. Ashley Johnson was a rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards.
 
- North Georgia used three 6-0 runs, a 7-2 run and an 8-0 run in the game to keep cutting the lead down and eventually take the lead with the 8-0 run near the end of regulation.
 
- The win improves the Nighthawks to 12-4 and 4-3 in Peach Belt play while the loss for the Cougars was just their second overall and first in PBC action. Columbus State is now 12-2 overall and 6-1 in conference.
 
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks hit the road for a three-game road trip that starts Sat., Jan. 16, at UNC Pembroke. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.