Game Preview: The No. 10 University of North Georgia women's basketball team looks to extend its seven-game winning streak when the Nighthawks host Columbus State Wednesday before hitting the road to battle Lander Saturday.
Nighthawks on the Web: Nighthawk fans not able to make it to the UNG Convocation Center Wednesday evening can follow along through streaming on YouTube and Facebook, local cable television (Windstream cable channels 78.12 and HD channel 890), live statistics on UNGAthletics.com and on all social media platforms. The game will also be simulcast live on the flagship radio station of North Georgia basketball, Glory 97.9 FM and AM 1330. Saturday's game in Greenwood can be followed live via the links above, courtesy of Lander's Sports Information Department. Fans can also follow the action through Twitter by following the women's basketball team (@UNGWBB).
Rankings: North Georgia remains the No. 10 team in the nation according to D2SIDA and No. 10 in the WBCA poll, each released Tuesday afternoon. UNG is No. 1 in the D2SIDA Southeast Region poll, earning all six first-place votes
Last Week: The Nighthawks went 2-0 a week ago, beating Georgia Southwestern on the road before taking down Georgia College at home.
Scouting Columbus State: Columbus State is 9-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. The Cougars, led by first year head coach Matt Houser, have an average margin of victory of 19.4 points per game and are seventh in the nation in steals per game, nabbing nearly 14 steals per contest. LeeAysia Williamson leads the Cougars with 17.7 points per game. The Cougars lead the all-time series, 16-13, but North Georgia has won three straight, all in the 2018-19 season. UNG defeated CSU in the Peach Belt championship game. Columbus State is 3-2 in the last five games in Dahlonega.
Scouting Lander: Lander is 10-3 on the year and 5-0 in PBC action. The Bearcats have lost just one game at home this year, falling by eight to Carson-Newman in the second game of the season. Three Bearcats average in double figures, led by Tabitha Dailey's 15.8 points per game and defending PBC Player of the Year Jessica Harris's 15.4 points per outing. North Georgia is 13-9 against the Bearcats all-time, including winning the last two matchups. The last time the two met, the Southeast Regional came home to Dahlonega after a 73-62 win in Anderson for UNG. Lander holds a sizable advantage in Greenwood, though, winning seven of the 10 matchups in Finis Horne Arena.
Team Stats: North Georgia leads the Peach Belt in 13 statistical categories, including ranking in the top 10 in the nation in three of them. UNG is second in the nation in three point defense, holding opponents to 22.5 percent from downtown; sixth in DII in defensive boards per game with 31.6 defensive rebounds per contest; and ninth in field goal percentage defense at 33.1 percent.
Individual Stats: Julianne Sutton is the third-best scorer in the league, averaging a team-best 16.8 points per outing. She also sits fourth in field goal percentage at 58.1 percent. Abbie Franklin sits in the top four in all three point shooting categories and in the top 10 in all assist categories. Kara Groover is first in the league in assists with 56.
Convocation Center Dominance: North Georgia remains a near impossible place to win for opposing teams. Buffie Burson's Nighthawks are 25-1 inside the UNG Convocation Center and have won 20 straight along the way. In those 25 wins are two regular season championships and a PBC Tournament Championship.
