DAHLONEGA - Five University of North Georgia players finished in double figures as the No. 21 Nighthawks downed Columbus State, 82-70, Wednesday night in a nationally televised contest as part of the NCAA Division II Showcase. The game was broadcast on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.

North Georgia never trailed in the contest, scoring the first seven points of the game capped off by a Julianne Sutton three-pointer. The Cougars would make a run to cut the lead down to two before UNG pulled away again.

CSU made a run in the second and third quarters as well to cut the lead down to three points or less, but North Georgia always found a way to respond to extend the lead back out to double figures where it stayed for the majority of the second half.

NOTES
- North Georgia is now 2-0 in nationally televised games on ESPN3, winning last year's matchup at Young Harris in the NCAA Division II Showcase.

- Sutton led all scorers with 21 points, earning a double-double with 13 boards as well. Tamera Thorpe contributed 20 points, while Amber Skidgel scored 12. Vanessa Agrusa and Imani Arnold each added 10.

- The Nighthawks took 27 free throws on the night, 20 more than the Cougars. UNG made 19 shots from the stripe, while CSU made all seven.

NEXT UP
UNG will look to keep the momentum going with another home game on Saturday against USC Aiken. Tip time is set for 1:30 p.m.