PEMBROKE – Columbus State's continuous attack at the perimeter proved to be too much for the home standing UNCP women's basketball team, as the Lady Braves fell to the Lady Cougars, 71-61, in Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the English E. Jones Center.

Columbus State (7-6, 3-3 PBC) came from behind to defeat the Lady Braves (7-7, 1-4). The win marked the second straight victory in three days for the Lady Cougars, who improve to 25-6 in the all-time series with UNCP. 

The Lady Cougars used a strong attack from the 3 point arch to best the Lady Braves. Columbus State took 31 shots from 3 point territory, shooting 35 percent from behind the arch. Both teams shot 40 percent from the field, with Columbus State taking the slight edge from the charity stripe (16-of-22). The Lady Braves were outrebounded, pulling down 30 boards compared to 35 from the Lady Cougars. 

Sophomore forward Kierra Haney finished with 19 points, leading the UNCP offence and notch a career best. Haney shot .692 from the field connecting on 9-of-13 buckets. Amelia Partin also scored in double-digits for the Lady Braves, totaling 13 points. Taylor Gallentine pulled a team-high eight rebounds, while Jazmine Kemp and Wayne Mack grabbed two steals apiece. 

Four members of Columbus State scored in double-digits, with Tae Smith leading the way with 20 points. Shan Basley recorded 12 points, while Chatil Bradford and Tandria Milton contributed 11 points and 10 points, respectively. Milton was 50 percent from 3 points territory, while Basley made good on 4-of-10 3 point buckets. Bradford and Asha Alexander had a team-high seven rebounds each. 

"I thought we were very aggressive and attacked any kind of pressure and the basket in the first half. In the second half we got in a very reactive mode, we stood around a lot and I thought we looked confused. We've got to get better organized and got to get the ball moving to attack," said UNCP head coach John Haskins. 

The Lady Braves entered the second half with a slight lead over Columbus State, until a trey from Basley put the Lady Cougars ahead by one. UNCP was scoreless for the first five minutes of the half and Columbus State went on an eight point run. The Lady Braves could not find a lead during the second half as the Lady Cougars shot nearly 43 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes of competition. Columbus State used a 12-5 run in the last three minutes of action to put the 71-61 victory away. 

UNCP pulled ahead early with an 11-5 lead just five minutes into the game. The first half saw eight lead changes before the Lady Braves took a seven point lead with under 10 minutes remaining. Partin connected on back-to-back 3 point buckets, giving UNCP a 27-34 lead. A jumper from Smith brought the Lady Cougars within two before intermission.

UNCP will return to the court tomorrow as the Lady Braves host PBC opponent Georgia Southwestern (3-9, 1-4) at 1:30 p.m. in the English E. Jones Center. 

To watch the full game click HERE.