AIKEN, S.C. --
Augusta State's Eboni Davis drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with
2:06 remaining and the Lady Jaguars survived a pair of game-winning
attempts from USC Aiken in the final seconds for a 61-60 Peach Belt
Conference victory Monday night in the Convocation Center.
The victory snapped an eight-game ASU losing streak and improved
the Lady Jags to 4-11 overall and 2-6 in the PBC. The loss dropped
the 18th-ranked Lady Pacers to 13-4 overall and 5-2 in the
league.
USC Aiken led 52-43 with 6:07 to play before the Lady Jags put
together an 11-0 run over a span of 2:05 to take the lead.
Jasmine Godwin put ASU in front 56-54 on a steal and layup with
4:02 to play. The Lady Pacers responded with four in a row before
two Nicole Mealing free throws tied the game at 58-all. A junior
point guard from Hopkins, S.C, Davis connected on her fifth trey on
the next possession to give ASU a 61-58 lead with 2:01 to go.
The Lady Pacers got a pair of free throws from Megan Starnes with
47 seconds left to cut their deficit to one. The teams then traded
turnovers, and USCA missed on three attempts in the final nine
seconds, including two from close range in the last three
seconds.
Davis paced ASU with 17 points and added three steals, while junior
forward Porsha White posted 12 points. Mealing added 11 and Godwin
turned in 10.
The Lady Jags scored the first basket of the game on a layup by
White, then went almost eight minutes without a field goal.
Davis' 3-pointer from the left corner ended a 7:52 scoreless
drought.
Aiken pushed its lead to 29-19 on a pair of Nakia Pinkney free
throws with 2:15 left, only to have ASU close the half on a 7-0
spurt that included five points from White and a Mealing layup.
The Lady Jags return home to take on Francis Marion on Wednesday,
Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.