Columbus, Georgia - West Georgia was unsystematic on Monday night against instate-rival Columbus State, and suffered an early season set back in a 68-46 loss on the road.
The Lady Cougars (4-2) controlled the game from the outset, never trailing in the 40-minute contest, building the lead to as much as twenty-three late in the contest. CSU was led by Phebe Smith's, the younger sister of NBA and Atlanta Hawks star Josh Smith, 21 point and 11 rebound performance. Smith was 5-of-8 from the field and 11-of-15 from the free throw line.
The Wolves could not get the lid of their respective basket all night from all aspects of the floor, shooting a season low 33% (16-of-48) from the field, and 48% (12-of-25) from the charity stripe. including 20% (2-of-10) from beyond the arc.
Dominic Cranford led UWG in scoring with 16 points and added nine rebounds, and
Ashley Huff contributed her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Cranford tipped in an offensive rebound at the 13:29 mark to cut the CSU lead back down to three at 12-9, but Columbus State applied the pressure to the Wolves backcourt not allowing anything resembling a tempo to be set and the Lady Cougars took the lead to the double-digit deficit with 8:27 remaining and took a commanding 35-20 lead into the half.
West Georgia could not overcome the rough first half and watched as Columbus State built on the lead throughout the second half and finished with the 68-46 victory, but these same two programs will face-off on Decemeber 14 in Carrollton, and the Wolves will be hungry.
West Georgia is now 3-1 and these women will not be joining their fellow UWG students on Thanksgiving break, because the Wolves are set to play in the North Georgia Classic this weekend, beginning on Friday, November 28 against Carson-Newman at 4:00, and Saturday, November 29 at 4:00, against North Georgia.