GREENWOOD. - Angie Parkman and Noelle Griffin hit crucial three-pointers, helping Columbus State break open a close game and hand Newberry its first loss of the season, 82-74, Saturday in the Lady Bearcat Classic at Horne Arena.

After the Lady Indians (4-1) had taken a 56-54 lead with nine minutes left, Parkman and Griffin each hit back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 12-2 run that gave Columbus (4-2) the lead for good at 66-58.

The Lady Cougars maintained a double-digit lead throughout most of the rest of the game. Newberry pulled within 80-74 in the final seconds but could get no closer.

Monica Alexander (Norcross, Ga.) paced Newberry with 14 points, Ashley Marine (Peachtree City, Ga.) had 11 points, and Carnicha Bellinger (Greenville, S.C.) 10. Tonya Deese (Prosperity, S.C.) added eight points and six rebounds.

After the teams played to a 12-all tie in the early minutes of the first half, Newberry went on a 16-6 run to take a 28-18 lead. Marine started the run with a layup and added a three-pointer. But Columbus answered with a 13-2 run capped by Shailee Sztern's three-pointer, giving the Cougars a 31-30 lead with 2:52 to go. Columbus's Tamika Wooley hit a layup with five seconds left to send the teams into the locker room tied at 35.

Columbus State, which outrebounded Newberry 47-43, shot 41 percent from the floor (26-of-64), 57 percent from the free throw line (21-of-37), and 45 percent from behind the three-point arc (9-of-20). The Lady Indians shot 40 percent from the field (24-of-60), 66 percent from the line (19-of-29), and 35 percent from three-point range (7-of-20).

Newberry will face its second nationally-ranked opponent in five days when it tangles with Anderson College Tuesday night.  The Lady Trojans are currently 19th in Division II, while Lander stood at 18th when the Indians rallied for the win Friday night.