AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta State Women's Basketball program made history Monday night when the Lady Jaguars improved to 8-0 for the first time ever with a 72-53 victory over Montevallo in the Peach Belt Conference home opener in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

ASU (8-0) improved to 2-0 in the Peach Belt Conference, while the Falcons dropped to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the PBC.

"We have had a good start," ASU head coach Nate Teymer said. "Every game I think we can win if we play hard and learn from our mistakes."

Senior forward Taylor Ayers notched a double-double to lead ASU, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds, contributing 14 points, and swatting three shots. Junior forward Jemimah Ashby booked a team-high 17 points, while junior point guard Tanchelle Hollingsworth scored 11 and handed out six assists. Senior forward Laci Schreiber grabbed 10 rebounds, scored six points, and had a game-high four steals.

The Falcons were led by Taylor Beverly's game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds. She added three blocks, while freshman guard Jacquelyn Thompson put up 14 points for Montevallo.

Montevallo moved out to an early eight point lead, but the Lady Jags tied it at 13-13 at the 9:31 mark, on a 3-point bucket by Brittany White. The contest remained close through the first half with ASU grabbing the lead, 23-21, with 4:32 left on the clock.

Ayers took over in the paint, scoring six of ASU's last eight points, as the Lady Jags closed out the half with a 29-25 advantage.

ASU began the second half with an 8-2 run, building a 13 point lead in the first five minutes. ASU led by as many as 23 in the second half when J. Ashby drained a 3-point bucket at the 5:53 mark. Augusta State finished the contest with a 19 point advantage for their second conference win in a row.

"We had our best second half of the year tonight. We rebounded, we knocked down shots, and we moved the ball," Teymer said.

ASU shot 44 percent from the field, holding the Falcons to 33 percent and outrebounded Montevallo 41-40. Augusta State nabbed 12 steals, while committing 14 turnovers. Montevallo turned the ball over 23 times, grabbing only four steals.

ASU returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 2, when they travel to Francis Marion for a PBC contest at 5:30 pm in Smith University Center.