MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - With a packed Centennial Center and a national audience watching,the Georgia College (15-8, 7-7 PBC) women's basketball team dropped a hard fought conference-matchup tonight, losing the 2016 Homecoming game 66-53 to Columbus State University (17-4, 11-3 PBC). 

The Division II Game of the Week broadcasted on ESPN3 saw the Bobcats keep pace with the Cougars early on.

The Bobcats entered the half tied with Columbus State at 30 apiece, but were outscored 36-23 in the second half as the Cougars and the Peach Belt Conference's leading scorer, Michelle Mitchell, proved to be too much for Coach Maurice Smith's squad.

Mitchell finished the game with 28 points and 17 rebounds, both game highs, and caused problems for the Bobcats all night.

The Bobcats weren't without their own stars as Kadesha Gibbs (Claremont, North Carolina) picked up her ninth double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and 12 boards.

LaRice Walker (Franklin) put up 15 points in the loss, dishing out two assists and grabbing two steals as well.

McKenna Rushton (Gainesville) had an extremely solid night as the senior forward hit 3-of-5 from behind the arc, finishing with 13 points in addition to six rebounds.

Meanwhile, Alyah McGriff (Suwanee) snatched 10 boards, had five points and swiped three steals in one of the sophomore's better performances of the season.

The loss is the fourth in a row to the Cougars, and puts the Bobcats in to a tie for third in the Western Division of the PBC standings.

The next contest for the Bobcats is Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. as Georgia College travels to Young Harris College to take on the Mountain Lions in a crucial PBC matchup.

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.