COLUMBUS, Ga. - Julie McKie's season-high 21 points paced the University of North Georgia women's basketball team past Columbus State, 78-69, Wednesday night inside CSU's Lumpkin Center. The Nighthawks improve to 8-2 and 3-1 in Peach Belt Conference play with the win.

After hitting the opening basket of the game, the Nighthawks never led until the 6:37 mark in the fourth quarter when McKie hit a free throw to put North Georgia up, 61-60. After a Cougar three pointer, UNG took the lead for good on a Vanessa Agrusa three pointer and never looked back on the way to the nine-point victory.

NOTES
- With the win, North Georgia snaps Columbus State's 20-game home winning streak. The Nighthawks also handed CSU its first regular-season loss at home since February 8, 2014, a game that UNG won as well.

- McKie's 21 came on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. The nine made free throws is a career high for the senior. Deana Blankinship tied a career high in points with 19 points, while Agrusa and Abbie Franklin set new career highs with 15 and 10, respectively.

- North Georgia had 33 points off the bench compared to just five for Columbus State.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will travel to USC Aiken on Saturday, January 6. Tip off against the Pacers is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.