COLUMBUS, Ga. – The UNCP women's basketball team used a 17-1 run in the last six minutes of the game to comeback from a double-digit deficit but Peach Belt Conference foe Columbus State held off the rally with seconds remaining in a 57-55 setback on Saturday afternoon at the Frank G. Lumpkin, Jr. Center.

Columbus State (9-3, 2-1 PBC) started the game taking a four point lead before UNCP (5-9, 1-5) would connect a shot at the free throw line and then a tie game as Domonique Washington knocked down the first field goal for the Black and Gold. UNCP led by five points at the 8:00 mark, but Columbus State fought back and ended the half with an eight-point lead.

The Lady Cougars started the second half by pushing the lead to double-digits and, ultimately, a game-high 18 points. The Lady Braves began a 17-1 run at the 6:13 mark and held Columbus State scoreless until Nakita Holt made her free-throw with nine seconds remained in the game. JaToya Kemp began the run with two freethrows followed by two consecutive layups, before Illya Hunt drained a 3-pointer off an assist from Kristen Hobbs to bring UNCP to within 10 points. 

Kemp continued the run with another layup before Hunt connected on two free throws to take the Black and Gold to within six points. With 1:30 left in action, Hobbs pumped out a 3-pointer and, with 53 seconds left, Kemp put up another layup to bring UNCP to within one point.

Dominique Gilbert registered a double-double with a team-best 15 points and 10 rebounds while Tandria Milton chipped in 12 points and a trio of assists. Marah Wright collected seven rebounds while Lauren Matheney and Holt each grabbed five rebounds apiece for the Lady Cougars.

Kemp tallied a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a pair of steals as she shot 8-of-14 from the field and 9-of-13 from the charity stripe. DeDe Cotton collected seven points as she was 2-of-3 from the 3-point line while Hunt tallied three assists.

 "We struggled on defense in the last five minutes of the first half and the first 12 minutes of the second half. But, once we started cutting into the lead, we regained our momentum to put us in the position to win the game," said UNCP head coach John Haskins. "JaToya did an outstanding job in the paint and we hit some nice 3-pointers but didn't make a few plays at the end we needed to."

The Lady Braves will continue their road trip to Americus, Ga., to battle Georgia Southwestern (6-6, 1-3) in the Storm Dome at the Student Success Center. Tip off is set for 1:30 p.m.