In front of an electrified home crowd at Lynn Cottrell Arena on Saturday night, the No. 6 University of North Georgia (UNG) women’s basketball team delivered a clutch performance, securing a 64-56 victory over fifth-seeded Columbus State (CSU) to advance to the Southeast Regional Championship for the fourth time in program history and the third time in Dahlonega.
The Nighthawks will now vie for the 2025 NCAA Southeast Regional title on Monday, March 17, against No. 21 and second-seeded Coker. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lynn Cottrell Arena.
A Rivalry Renewed Saturday’s regional semifinal was the latest chapter in an intense rivalry between UNG and CSU, with the two teams splitting their regular-season meetings. Columbus State handed the Nighthawks their first loss of the season back in January, ending a 13-game winning streak. But on Saturday, UNG was determined to return the favor—and they did so in dramatic fashion.
Graduate forward Emily Trushel set the tone early, knocking down three three-pointers in the first seven minutes to help UNG jump out to a 12-2 lead. The Cougars responded with a late first-quarter surge and carried that momentum into the second, taking a 26-24 lead into halftime in what quickly became a defensive battle.
The intensity only heightened in the second half. Columbus State maintained a slim lead for much of the third quarter until graduate guard Caroline Martin came through with a crucial putback layup to tie the game at 40-40 entering the final frame.
Big-Time Plays Define the Fourth Quarter With the game tied at 44-44 in the fourth, senior guard Ansley Hall buried a three-pointer to give UNG a lead, but the Cougars countered with a 7-0 run to go up 51-47. Facing adversity, the Nighthawks leaned on their stars to regain control.
Trushel responded first, sprinting behind the defense to convert a fast-break layup. Moments later, Martin drilled a three-pointer to reclaim the lead at 52-51. CSU’s Bre’Lyn Snipes, who led all scorers with 25 points, briefly put the Cougars back in front with a layup. But Trushel’s calm composure at the free-throw line swung the advantage back to UNG.
The turning point came when Hall made a game-saving defensive play, stripping CSU’s Olonna Rawls of the ball and securing possession for UNG. On the ensuing play, Trushel fought through traffic for a tough layup, extending the lead to 56-53 with just over a minute remaining.
With the crowd on its feet, Martin delivered the dagger. The graduate guard drove through the lane, drew a foul, and converted an and-one layup to send the home fans into a frenzy. UNG closed out the game by sinking seven of its final eight free throws, sealing the eight-point win.
Stat Leaders and What’s Next Trushel led the Nighthawks with 23 points, including five three-pointers, while also contributing nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Martin neared a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Hall added 10 points and played a pivotal role in UNG’s defensive stand late in the game.
With their home-court rivalry revenge complete, the Nighthawks now set their sights on another milestone—the Southeast Regional Championship. Awaiting them is second-seeded Coker, which secured a 48-44 win over Carson-Newman in its semifinal matchup. UNG will aim to capture the regional crown and punch its ticket to the Elite Eight on Monday night.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the UNG Convocation Center as the Nighthawks look to keep their championship aspirations alive.
