Lady Pirates Handle Cougars, 57-48, Clinch PBC Tournament Bye

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball squad secured a first-round bye for the upcoming Peach Belt Conference tournament with a 57-48 victory over visiting Columbus State on Thursday evening at Alumni Arena.

The Lady Pirates (15-10, 10-8 PBC) can finish no lower than sixth in the PBC standings, meaning AASU avoids playing in the 7-10 and 8-9 games on Wednesday, March 4, in the first day of the tournament in Aiken. Columbus State (14-13, 7-10) fell to 2-4 in its last six contests.

Columbus State made the first two baskets of the game, but the Lady Pirates went on a 16-5 run, capped by an Ashley Duhart four-point play with 12:09 left in the first half, to take an early 16-8 lead. AASU stretched that first half lead to 23 by scoring the final 13 points of the first half and taking a 38-15 lead into intermission.

The Lady Cougars held AASU to just 19 second-half points, but the deficit was just too great for Columbus State to overcome as the Lady Pirates swept the season series from CSU for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

Lacey Willis led the Lady Pirates with 14 points and eight rebounds on the night, while Kelly Versluis added 10 points, eight boards and three blocked shots. Duhart finished the night with 10 points and three steals.

Phebe Smith led Columbus State with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Hali Moore also notched a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Columbus State recorded just two bench points on the night and finished the game shooting 28.1 percent from the floor with just 18-of-64 shots made.

AASU returns to action on Wednesday, February 25, with a 5:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference contest at No. 12 Francis Marion in Florence, S.C.