COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Kendall Emener secured her first career double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but the University of North Georgia women's basketball team fell to Columbus State, 78-75, on the road Saturday in Peach Belt Conference action.
The Nighthawks (10-4, 3-1 Peach Belt) had four players score in double figures. In addition to Emener's double-double, Ansley Hall tacked on 14 points and six rebounds and Isabel Davenport helped out with 12 points off of the bench.
Emener's 23 ponts and 11 rebounds both marked career highs for the freshman from Macon.
North Georgia grabbed 44 rebounds in Saturday's game compared to Columbus State's 34, led by Emener's 11 boards. The Nighthawks also cleaned up the offensive glass, turning 14 rebounds into 19 second chance points.
After jumping out to an 18-14 advantage, North Georgia went on a 6-0 run with 57 seconds left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Emener, to increase its lead to 24-14, a score that would hold for the rest of the period.
North Georgia kept its first quarter lead intact before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 7:08 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Lexi Pierce, to increase its lead to 32-21. The Cougars cut into that lead, but the Nighthawks still enjoyed a 32-29 advantage heading into halftime.
North Georgia used a 6-0 run, punctuated by a three from Davenport, to expand its lead further to 41-34 with 7:23 to go in the third, but from there Columbus State heated up to respond with 27 third quarter points to seize a 56-55 lead.
The Cougars kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 61-58 advantage before North Georgia went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Pierce's layup, to seize a 63-61 lead with 5:51 to go in the contest. Columbus State re-asserted control, outscoring the Nighthawks 17-12 the rest of the way to hand North Georgia the 78-75 loss. North
with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Letiya Reeves led all scorers with a game-high 24 points to lead the Cougars (6-6, 2-2 Peach Belt).
North Georgia wraps up a two-game road swing with a PBC matchup at Lander on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
