Lady Pirates' Second Half Push Clips Columbus State, 56-53

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Junior Portia Jones' 13 second-half points and senior Kelly Versluis' school-record eight blocked shots helped the Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball team come away with a 56-53 Peach Belt Conference victory over host Columbus State on Thursday evening in Columbus.

The Lady Pirates (11-4, 6-2 PBC) trailed by six at halftime, 31-25, and by as many as nine points in the second half. Jones hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions midway through the second half, turning a seven-point CSU advantage into a one-point agme, 45-44, with 9:38 remaining. A three-pointer by CSU's Nikki Urbizo extended the lead back to four, but Jones hit her third three with 7:22 left to keep it a one-point contest.

Jones hit a baseline jumper with 1:45 remaining to put the Pirates in front, 54-53, with 1:45 remaining, then iced the game with two free throws with 5.1 seconds left. Columbus State (11-7, 4-4 PBC) turned the ball over twice and missed two three-pointers in the final 85 seconds.

Ashley Duhart also collected 13 points in the game for AASU, as did Dartayvia Thomas. Meanwhile, Versluis' eight blocked shots broke the AASU single-game record of six, set three times previously, the latest by Tishay Lewis against Clayton State on December 7, 2002.

Columbus State was led by Phebe Smith's 17 points and Ashley Stafford's eight points and 10 rebounds.

The win snapped a two-game slide for the Lady Pirates, and it was also AASU's first win against the Lady Cougars in Columbus since the 2003-04 season.

The Lady Pirates return to action on Saturday, January 24, with a 2:00 p.m. Peach Belt contest at Lander.