AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State snapped a 41-game Peach Belt Conference losing streak Monday night with a 51-44 victory over UNC Pembroke in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
Behind a career-high 15-point effort from senior point guard Jarquella Woods and 12 points from senior guard Blaire Egardo, the Lady Jaguars registered their first PBC win since an 82-55 blowout victory over Georgia Southwestern on Jan. 24, 2009 in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The victory lifted ASU to 7-14 overall and 1-12 in the PBC, while the Lady Braves dropped to 9-13 and 5-9 in the league. The win -- the Lady Jags' first in 2011 -- also snapped their 12-game skid that began on Dec. 18, 2010 at Clayton State.
Senior forward Jatoya Kemp netted a team-high 15 points for UNCP, pulled down eight rebounds, and added one block. The only other Lady Brave in double figures was junior guard Domonique Washington, who scored 10 points and also snagged eigt boards.
The Lady Jags led at the half 22-18 while limiting Pembroke to 30.4 percent shooting. ASU grabbed its largest lead of the game with 10:24 remaining on a 3-pointer by freshman forward Jac' Weather for a 41-29 advantage.
The Lady Braves pulled within 44-42 on a 3-point bomb by Dede Cotton with 2:29 left. They tied the game at 44-all on their next possession with a layup by guard Domonique Washington with 1:36 to play.
Egardo's clutch 3-pointer with 29 seconds left put ASU in front 47-44. Egardo rebounded a Kemp missed layup and after being fouled, canned two free-throws to widen the lead to 49-44 with 16 ticks left and freshman guard Brooke McCants hit a pair from the charity stripe with :07 remaining for the final margin.
The Lady Jags shot just 31.4 percent for the game, but hit 14-of-16 free throws (87.5 percent). UNCP shot 41.2 percent from the field but netted just 7-17 from the charity stripe. ASU also nabbed 11 steals compared to the Lady Braves' 2.
The Lady Jags head to Milledgeville to face Georgia College for "Battle Of The Cats" night on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m., in the Centennial Center.
