AMERICUS, GA -- Top-seeded Georgia Southwestern State University used a late 10-2 run to defeat third-seeded Columbus State University 57-52 in the championship game of the Peach Belt Conference women's basketball tournament on Sunday. With the win, the Hurricanes earn their second straight tournament title and the PBC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Selections will be announced on Sunday night with GSW having a good chance to host the regional after favorable results in other conference tournaments.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the first quarter, combining for three points over the first two and a half minutes. A three-pointer from Amber Abusbeih opened up a four-point lead for Columbus State and a three-point play from Olonna Rawls kept the lead at four 12-8 with 3:29 to go. GSW cut that lead to one at the end of the quarter on Kayla Langley's three-point play as CSU led 14-13 at the end of the quarter.
CSU maintained that lead throughout the second quarter, but never by more than five points. GSW cut the lead to two twice, the second time on a Langley layup with 2:04 to go. Jasmine Rai Stevens answered with a three-pointer for CSU and the Cougars led 30-25 at the half.
The Hurricanes closed the gap and took their first lead of the second half midway through the third quarter as Langley converted back-to-back layups for a 33-32 lead. The two teams traded the lead five more times in the quarter before Abusbeih hit a three followed by a Letiya Reeves layup that opened up a three-point margin. CSU led 41-37 at the end of the quarter following two free throws from Simone Lett.
Columbus State led 50-47 with 3:53 to play when Langley hit back-to-back layups. That was the start of seven straight Hurricane points as CSU was kept off the board until eight seconds remained. GSW finished the game on a 10-2 run, winning the title by five.
Langley was named the Tournament MVP, leading all players with 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting and 11 rebounds. Jashanti Simmons added 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. GSW held a 41-35 edge on the boards and outscored the Cougars 32-24 in the paint.
Abusbeih led CSU with 19 points and four steals, hitting three of five three-pointers. Rawls scored eight and finished with a team-high 11 rebounds.
The NCAA women's basketball selection show will stream live starting at 10:30 pm tonight on NCAA.com.
Peach Belt Conference
Women's Basketball All-Tournament Team
Kennedi Manning, Augusta
Olonna Rawls, Columbus State
Letiya Reeves, Columbus State
Leah Johnson, Georgia Southwestern
Jashanti Simmons, Georgia Southwestern
Tournament MVP
Kayla Langley, Georgia Southwestern