DAHLONEGA - Kaylee Sticker registered a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, but the University of North Georgia women's basketball team fell to Columbus State 66-61 in Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center.
 
The Nighthawks trailed by 14 (60-46) with 3:12 remaining and would use a 15-1 flurry to knot the score with 0:20 remaining before Columbus State was able to ice the game with a big three and a pair of free throws.
 
After falling behind 13-8, North Georgia went on a 10-0 run with 4:06 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Sticker, to take an 18-13 lead. CSU would hold a 20-18 lead after the first quarter.
 
Columbus State kept adding to that lead, building a 29-22 advantage before North Georgia went on a 6-0 run to narrow its deficit to 29-28. The Cougars responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Nighthawks trailing 32-28 heading into halftime.
 
Columbus State continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 36-30 advantage before North Georgia went on a 5-0 run to trim its deficit to 36-35 with 4:41 to go in the third. Columbus State countered and stretched its lead to 43-39 heading into the fourth. North Georgia took advantage of four Columbus State turnovers in the quarter, scoring four points off of takeaways.
 
Columbus State kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 60-46 advantage before North Georgia went on an 8-0 run, finished off by Livi Blackstock's layup, to shrink the deficit to 60-54 with 1:51 to go in the contest. The Nighthawks kept their comeback going, but Columbus State managed to hold on for the 66-61 win. North Georgia fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 22 points.

In addition to Sticker's double-double, the Nighthawks (14-8, 7-5 Peach Belt) were led by Emily Trushel, who had 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals, and by Kendall Emener, who chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds.
 
Olonna Rawls and Letiya Reeves each scored 14 to lead Columbus State (12-8, 8-4 Peach Belt) offensively.

North Georgia returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 14 when Lander comes to town with game time set for 5:30 p.m.