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Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Despite hauling in a season-high 56 rebounds and outscoring the hosts by 11 points in the second half, the UNC Pembroke women's basketball squad dropped a 73-56 mid-week affair to Peach Belt Conference (PBC) foe and No. 19 Columbus State Wednesday evening inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Center.

The Braves (7-4, 2-2 PBC) hit the glass hard, out rebounding Columbus State (9-0, 3-0 PBC) 56-51 after the Cougars came into the game with a league leading plus-13.5 rebounding margin. The Cougars had out rebounded each of their previous three opponents by at least 22 boards. It's the fifth-consecutive series win for the hosts, who remain the only undefeated team in the conference.

Coming out of the halftime break down 49-21, the Black & Gold found their rhythm on the defensive end of the court, holding the Cougars to a season-low 24 points in a half. UNCP held the hosts to their worst shooting percentage (35.1) in nearly a calendar year. The Braves outscored Columbus State 21-12 in the third quarter and 14-12 in the final period, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 28-point halftime deficit.

UNCP's 56 rebounds were not only a season best, but the most since grabbing 58 in a win over The Apprentice School Dec. 13, 2015. It was also the most rebounds against a PBC opponent since the season finale of the 2014-15 campaign.

Junior Brianna Baham canned a career-high 13 points for the guests, knocking down 4-of-7 shots from the floor and 2-of-5 from long range. She was a perfect 3-for-3 at the charity stripe. Baham came one rebound short of a double-double, hauling in a team-best nine, and dished out four assists. Nyla Allen added eight points and four rebounds.

The Braves shot a season-low 26.8 percent (19-for-71) from the field and gave up 17 fast break points to the hosts. The UNCP bench outscored the Cougar bench 40-18.

UNCP returns home Saturday to do battle with PBC rival Georgia College on the front end of a 5:30 p.m. women's-men's doubleheader at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. The Braves are 4-1 at home this season. Georgia College (8-2, 2-1 PBC) hold a 29-8 advantage in the series history with UNCP, including wins in the last four meetings.