COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. – The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's basketball team traveled to face No. 19-ranked conference opponent Columbus State on Saturday. The Cougars used a strong second quarter, highlighted by a late 8–0 run, to build an 11-point lead late in the half before closing out a 79–75 win over the Sand Sharks.

USCB falls to 8–7 overall and 5–3 in conference play. Columbus State improves to 12–2 on the season with a 6–1 Peach Belt Conference record.

Lydia Gattozzi led the Sand Sharks with 21 points, along with seven rebounds and two blocks, all team highs. Janiyah Heyward added 16 points, a team-high five assists, and two steals. Samantha Bardonaro rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points.

Columbus State jumped out to a quick start, scoring the first five points of the game in the opening minute before Taniyah Bowman put the Sand Sharks on the board with an offensive rebound put-back layup. Madison Self followed with a basket for her first points of the game. The score remained tight with no change until the 6:40 mark, when Columbus State hit a three-pointer. USCB quickly responded with five straight points to tie the game at nine, capped by Gattozzi's first three-pointer of the game off an assist from Kay'Mar Griffin. The Sand Sharks continued to answer baskets from the Cougars, with scoring contributions from Jada Young, Carolina Coria, and Gattozzi, but trailed 23–21 after the opening quarter.

The second quarter opened as a defensive battle, with the Sand Sharks not scoring until the 7:34 mark when Bardonaro hit a three-pointer for her first basket of the game. Columbus State extended its lead to eight, its largest to that point, before USCB answered with points from Gattozzi, Young, and Self to cut the deficit to one possession. After trailing by three, Columbus State went on an 8–0 run, forcing five Sand Shark turnovers and building an 11-point lead, its largest of the game. Jada Young ended the run with a basket in the closing seconds of the half, as USCB headed into halftime trailing 43–34.

The Sand Sharks started the second half strong as Bardonaro opened the third quarter with a three-pointer assisted by Heyward, followed by a Heyward defensive rebound that turned into a layup. After a scoring drought of more than two minutes for both teams, Kay'Mar Griffin ended the drought for USCB. Heyward continued the surge, helping the Sand Sharks cut the deficit to two points at 45–43. However, a Columbus State run pushed the lead back to nine at 54–45 midway through the quarter. The deficit remained at nine through the end of the third quarter heading into the final 10 minutes.

USCB opened the fourth quarter with four straight points from Bardonaro and Gattozzi, cutting the deficit to three at 65–62. Columbus State responded with a couple of second-chance points off offensive rebounds to regain a nine-point lead at 71–62 with five minutes remaining. After trading baskets, a shot from Courtney Campbell sparked a late comeback attempt, followed by a Gattozzi basket in the final minute that brought the deficit back to one possession. The Sand Sharks forced their 17th turnover to get a final stop, but the tying three-pointer would not fall as USCB fell to Columbus State 79-75 after a free throw from the Cougars.

The Sand Sharks will be back in action Wednesday, January 14, traveling to Americus, Georgia, for a road matchup against Georgia Southwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.