YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Columbus State University led wire-to-wire as the No. 24-ranked Cougars picked up a 65-49 Peach Belt Conference women's basketball victory over Young Harris College Wednesday (Jan. 11) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Cougars improved to 11-1 overall and to 5-1 inside the league, while the Mountain Lions fell to 6-6 and 2-3. Young Harris returns to action Saturday (Jan. 14) when they travel to Pembroke, North Carolina, for a 1:30 p.m. PBC contest against the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

"We played very hard and I'm proud of how we battled," said YHC head coach Matt Stearsman. "It wasn't an easy situation at the beginning of the game. We outrebounded a very good rebounding team. We turned it over too much against a good team and it cost us. If we cut down our turnovers and make a couple more shot, we are right there."

Columbus State scored 12 of the game's first 14 points as they opened up a 12-2 lead on a Britteny Tatum three-pointer with 6:05 left in the first quarter, Young Harris scored six unanswered points to pull within three points (18-15) after a Briana Bell layup with 11 seconds.

The Cougars then reeled off another 12-2 run over the next seven minutes to open up a 30-17 lead on a Ashley Asouzu jumper in the paint with 3:20 left in the half. Young Harris got as close as nine points (35-26) on a Jenny Vernet free throw three minutes into the third quarter, but that was as close as the Mountain Lions would get. Columbus State led by as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Asouzu led the Cougars with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Tatum tossed in 18 points. Gabby Williams added 11 points while Keyrra Gillespie added 11 rebounds and seven assists,

Vernet paced the Mountain Lions with 15 points and nine rebounds while Meredith Tarver added 11 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Bell finished with nine points.