Michelle Mitchell's double-double powers CSU's 62-49 win over USC Aiken

Michelle Mitchell scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds Saturday to lead Columbus State to a 62-49 win over USC Aiken at the Lumpkin Center.

Trailing 13-11 after one period, CSU (7-1, 2-0 Peach Belt Conference) took control of the game in the second quarter. The Lady Cougars outscored Aiken 18-10 to take a 29-23 lead into halftime.

Columbus State forced 27 turnovers in the game and those turnovers led to 31 points.

In the second half CSU added to the lead in both the third and fourth quarters. At one point, CSU was up by 17 points before the Aiken (5-6, 0-2) cut into the lead.

"We've really focused on playing strong defense," coach Jonathan Norton said in a release. "We really tried to turn up the ball pressure and move to get some easy buckets."

Ashley Asouzu pulled down 11 rebounds to go with her eight points. Britteny Tatum had 10 points and Eryn Cochran hit three 3-pointers for nine points.

Neither team shot well from the floor. CSU was 24-of-63 (38.1 percent) and hit 5-of-17 from beyond the arc. The Pacers went 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the field and just 4-of-17 from 3-point range.

Columbus State has break for Christmas and returns to action against Mobile on Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. in the Lumpkin Center.

The Lady Cougars get back into Peach Belt play Jan. 2 against Francis Marion in Florence, S.C. Tipoff for that game is 1:30 p.m. Following that game, CSU travels to Savannah, Ga., to take on Armstrong State Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m.

CSU returns home to host Georgia Southwestern and Georgia College on Jan. 6 and Jan. 9.

USC AIKEN (5-6, 0-2 PBC)

Kassy Johannsen 5-7 0-0 10; Jasmine Coach 4-11 2-2 10; Alexis Ware 3-7 0-0 8; Stephanie Ball 2-6 0-0 6; Katelyn Grisillo 2-2 0-0 4; Rachelle Aupont 2-8 0-0 4; Kate Duff 1-4 1-2 3; Aubrey Lukackso 1-4 0-0 2; Mariah Durian 1-2 0-0 2; Baylea Loven 0-0 0-0 0; Carly Gilreath 0-2 0-0 0; Tiffany Addison 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 3-4 49.

COLUMBUS STATE (7-1, 2-0 PBC)

Michelle Mitchell 9-19 4-4 22; Britteny Tatum 3-5 2-3 10; Eryn Cochran 3-12 0-0 9; Ashley Asouzu 4-8 0-0 8; Gabby Williams 3-8 1-2 7; Brea Walker 1-2 0-0 2; Ashley Johnson 0-3 2-4 2; Erin Morrow 1-2 0-0 2; Alexys Woods 0-0 0-0 0; Kristian Carter 0-1 0-0 0; Tatiana Wayne 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 9-13 62.USC Aiken 13 10 18 8--49

Columbus State 11 18 21 12--623-point goals--USC Aiken 4-17 (Stephanie Ball 2-3; Alexis Ware 2-6; Rachelle Aupont 0-4; Aubrey Lukackso 0-2; Mariah Durian 0-1; Carly Gilreath 0-1), Columbus State 5-17 (Eryn Cochran 3-10; Britteny Tatum 2-3; Brea Walker 0-1; Erin Morrow 0-1; Tatiana Wayne 0-2). Fouled out--USC Aiken-None, Columbus State-None. Rebounds--USC Aiken 38 (Kassy Johannsen 10), Columbus State 36 (Ashley Asouzu 11). Assists--USC Aiken 13 (Katelyn Grisillo 5), Columbus State 13 (Michelle Mitchell 6). Total fouls--USC Aiken 16, Columbus State 14. Technical fouls--USC Aiken-None, Columbus State-None. A-195

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 8:38 PM with the headline "Michelle Mitchell's double-double powers CSU's 62-49 win over USC Aiken ."