CSU women down Flagler 72-54 in opening round of Peach Belt tournament

The Columbus State women were having trouble putting away Flagler on Sunday at the Lumpkin Center in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference basketball tournament.

But the Lady Cougars, who won their second straight conference regular-season championship earlier in the week, got big shots from Michelle Mitchell and Erin Morrow to end the last threat in a 72-54 victory.

"Workman-like performance," CSU coach Jonathan Norton said. "We took care of business on our home floor. I thought defensively we did a good job of holding them to 54. We only outrebounded them three (45-42), so that kind of kept them in the game."

With the win, the Lady Cougars, who have won the past two PBC tournament titles, will be the host for next weekend's semifinals and finals for both the women and the men. The semifinals will be on Saturday with the final on Sunday.

CSU (23-4) advances to the semifinals, where it will face Augusta next Saturday.

Having the games at the Lumpkin Center should be a huge advantage for the Lady Cougars, who have won a school and conference record 31 straight at the Lumpkin Center.

"I think it is huge," Norton said, "with the success

we have had at home. Now they are all good teams coming in here."

CSU took its largest lead of the game, 19 points, 58-39, on a layup by Ashley Johnson with 7:32 left in the game.

But Flagler refused to go quietly, scoring the next eight points. But when Flagler went to a full-court press, CSU got the ball to Mitchell, who hit a 10-foot jumper.

After Alex Alford hit a 3-pointer for Flagler, Morrow answered for CSU just 13 seconds later, extending the lad back to 13, 65-52, with 3:10 left.

Flagler (13-14) would not score again until there was 31 seconds remaining. By then CSU had built a 69-52 lead.

Mitchell finished with a game-high 21 points. She also grabbed 14 rebounds for a double-double, her ninth of the season.

Britteny Tatum added 13 points. Ashley Johnson had nine points and eight rebounds. Ashley Asouzu scored just eight points, but she had nine points. She was limited by early foul trouble and planter fasciitis in her feet.

Sunday At Lumpkin Center

FLAGLER (13-14)

Teosha Ray 7-16 0-0 16; Elise Spann 4-10 3-4 12; Alex Alford 3-7 1-4 8; Litisha Speights 3-6 1-2 7; DeAsha Campbell 2-8 1-2 5; Maggie Flynn 2-6 0-0 5; Tiffany Hodge 0-6 1-2 1; Kristina Bugarski 0-0 0-0 0; Mandi Koski 0-0 0-0 0; Allie Mano 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-62 7-14 54.

COLUMBUS STATE (23-4)

Michelle Mitchell 9-17 1-2 21; Britteny Tatum 4-8 5-6 13; Ashley Johnson 4-9 1-3 9; Erin Morrow 3-4 0-1 8; Ashley Asouzu 3-7 2-3 8; Gabby Williams 1-7 5-8 7; Brea Walker 1-1 0-0 3; Eryn Cochran 1-2 0-0 3; Alexys Woods 0-0 0-0 0; Kristian Carter 0-1 0-0 0; Tatiana Wayne 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 14-23 72.

Flagler 13 10 16 15 --54

CSU 19 15 20 18 --72

3-point goals--Flagler 5-17 (Teosha Ray 2-6; Elise Spann 1-4; Maggie Flynn 1-3; Alex Alford 1-2; Allie Mano 0-2), Columbus State 6-14 (Erin Morrow 2-3; Michelle Mitchell 2-2; Brea Walker 1-1; Eryn Cochran 1-2; Gabby Williams 0-1; Kristian Carter 0-1; Tatiana Wayne 0-2; Britteny Tatum 0-2). Fouled out--Flagler-None, Columbus State-None. Rebounds--Flagler 42 (Litisha Speights 14), Columbus State 45 (Michelle Mitchell 14). Assists--Flagler 9 (Elise Spann 3; DeAsha Campbell 3), Columbus State 11 (Michelle Mitchell 2; Britteny Tatum 2; Erin Morrow 2). Total fouls--Flagler 16, Columbus State 14. Technical fouls--Flagler-None, Columbus State-None. A-428 PBC Tournament Quarterfinals: E4 Flagler vs. W1 Columbus State CSU ranked 24th in USA Today Coaches Poll

This story was originally published February 28, 2016 at 11:54 PM with the headline "CSU women down Flagler 72-54 in opening round of Peach Belt tournament ."