AUGUSTA, Ga. – After suffering a lopsided, 83-56, defeat to the then-ranked No. 24 Lander Bearcats, the GRU Augusta women's basketball team came up short, 59-53, against Peach Belt Conference opponent Armstrong Wednesday night in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The victory allowed the Pirates (7-7, 5-2 PBC) to bring its record to.500 for the first time this season, and handed the Jags (2-12, 1-6 PBC) their fifth straight conference lost.

The Jags dealt the first blow in the opening minutes. GRU went on a 14-0 run to start the match, which was their hottest start of the season. Junior Kariel Hutt set the pace by attacking down low and contributing six points to the double-digit run.

The Pirates wouldn't make their first field goal until six minutes into the first period. Armstrong applied a full-court press and created five straight turnovers to climb back into the contest. Guard and seventh leading scorer in the Peach Belt, Shermika Harris, knocked down a jumper to give the Pirates their first lead of the game, 17-16.

For the remainder of the first half the teams went back and forth, exchanging the scoreboard advantage five times in the last eight minutes. At the two-minute mark, Pirate guard Dee Hayward drained a three-pointer at the top of the key for a 24-23 lead. The Pirates held the Jags scoreless in the final minute of the first period and went into locker room up 27-23.

In the second half the Jags kept the score differential within four through the first nine minutes. However, the Pirates went on a quick 8-2 run to make the match a 42-32 affair. At the 5:07 mark, the Jags closed the gap to six off back-to-back threes from guards Joshlyn Belcher and Camille Gee. Two minutes later, guard Tavia Sykes hit two free throws to bring the Jags within four, 48-44.

During the final seconds, the Jags got another three-pointer from Belcher - following a missed free throw for a 54-53 lead in favor of the Pirates. Nevertheless, Belcher air-balled the three-pointer that would've sent the game into overtime, and the Pirates knocked down their free throws to secure the victory.

The Jags finished the contest shooting 31.6 percent from floor, but 60 percent from downtown. Despite keeping Harris in check with only 11 points, the Jags allowed Howard to drop 18 and lost the rebounding battle 42-36.

Hutt posted a double-double, 14 boards and 14 points, and Belcher finished the night with 15 points. Gee also scored in double figures by posting 12 points.

The Jaguars return to action on Saturday, Jan 17 at 3:30 p.m. with a conference road test against Columbus State. The CSU matchup is the first of a three game road stretch. The Jags also travel to Young Harris Jan. 19 and Flagler Jan. 24.

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