AUGUSTA, Ga. – For the second time in three days, GRU Augusta battled their way into overtime, but the North Georgia Nighthawks proved just a bit too much as they took a 63-60 Peach Belt Conference victory Wednesday night in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Trailing by four with under a minute to play in regulation, Kariel Hutt got a layup to roll in after bouncing the rim and drew a foul. She pushed the free throw right, but quick thinking by Erika Waters saved the rebound from going out of bounds as the Jags called timeout. Hutt hit her turnaround in the paint on the next possession to knot things at 58 apiece, and neither team could hit on their final possession in regulation, forcing overtime.

The Jags (2-10, 1-4 PBC) took an early lead in the extra period, but the Nighthawks (12-2, 4-1) went up  61-60 with 2:04 to go on two Stephanie Huffman free throws as GRU shot 1-of-7 in the period. Both teams traded misses and turnovers as time wound down until UNG made two more free throws to go up 63-60, but Joshlyn Belcher's last-second three clanged off the rim.

It was a back-and-forth affair the entire evening as the Jaguars gave North Georgia, a team receiving votes in the NCAA national poll, all it could handle.

The Nighthawks jumped out to a quick lead, hitting the opening three and firing off a 9-2 run in the first 3:29 of the game. But the Jaguars battled back on the efforts of Hutt and Camille Gee. First, Hutt nabbed a steal and fast break layup, followed by Gee's runner in traffic along the baseline. It was capped by Hutt's swish underneath the rim to pull the Jags within two. Gee followed with two made free throws to knot things up, then took their first lead of the game at 25-22 as she was fouled on a three and hit all three from the stripe.

The teams traded buckets until the half, a 33-31 UNG lead.

Defensive adjustments led to some uncomfortable offensive moments for both squads early, with each team trading the lead and looking to create space. Finally, the Nighthawks hit a groove after GRU took a 38-37 lead, working the ball around for open looks near the hoop and hitting four buckets as the Jags went cold for a 46-38 advantage with nine minutes to play.

The teams were near-even in field goal percentage, turnovers, and rebounds, but the Jags were held back by 1-of-13 shooting from behind the arc. Hutt's 17 points and 11 rebounds notched her the double-double, and Gee added 14.

Four Nighthawks scored in double figures. GRU hits the road to face Lander this Saturday, Jan. 10 at 1:30 p.m. before returning to Christenberry Fieldhouse Wednesday, Jan. 14 to host Armstrong at 5:30 p.m.