By Sean Montgomery, Sports Information Student Assistant

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Georgia College women's basketball team (13-2, 5-1 PBC) suffered its first conference loss and just the second defeat of the season in a rematch of last season's conference championship with the No. 14 Columbus State University Cougars (12-1, 6-0 PBC) Saturday at the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center.

Despite a hot start from senior Kadesha Gibbs (Claremont, North Carolina), the Bobcats could not overcome a seven-point deficit after the opening period. Gibbs would score the first points of the game and nine of the team's 13 first quarter points.  She would go on to finish with a team-high 14 while grabbing 10 boards to secure another double-double.

Trailing for the majority of the game, the Bobcat team could not figure out the stingy Cougar defense. Scoring a season-low 52 points, the team would go on to shoot just 34 percent (17-50) from the field for the game, including just a trio of three pointers made on a season-low nine attempts.

Senior forward Mckenna Rushton (Gainesville) was the only teammate to join Gibbs in double figures on the day. Rushton rained in 12 points on an efficient 50 percent (3-6) shooting from the field, while gathering in six rebounds. Two of the three made baskets were from behind the arc and she netted 4-of-5 shots from the foul line.

Lindsey Reed (Stockbridge) would add eight points off of the bench while playing solid defense. Reed snatched away three possessions from the Cougars, tying her with Gibbs for a game-high three steals. Alyah McGriff (Suwanee) and LaRice Walker (Franklin) added in six points each. Walker reeled in five rebounds, while McGriff collected four.

For the Cougars, Michelle Mitchell came off the bench to electrify the offense. Mitchell scored a game-high 17 points in 27 minutes, as she shot 54 percent (7-13) from the field. She also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists to aid in snapping the record streak and handing the Bobcats their second loss of the season.

Georgia College will look to start a new winning streak as they travel to Clayton State University Wednesday, Jan. 9. The game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on social media for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.