Four Jaguars score in double figures to guide team to non-conference victory

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguars withstood the West Georgia Wolves down the stretch on Saturday afternoon and won a 69-61 non-conference game in Christenberry Fieldhouse with four starters scoring in double figures.

The Jaguars improved to 4-2 with the win and West Georgia moved to 0-6. The Jags outscored UWG 30-20 in the first half and for the game shot 44.8 percent from the floor to the Wolves' 36.2 percent.

Augusta dominated the paint and outrebounded the UWG 43-31, while recording three blocks and seven steals as a team.

In their first possession, the Jaguars connected on their first shot attempt when senior Kariel Hutt found senior Camille Gee for a successful three pointer. The Jags were ahead at the first media timeout and held a 15-12 advantage after 10 minutes thanks to sophomore Joshlyn Belcher's three ball. Belcher hit another from deep off a Kayla Lovett assist and junior Breonna O'Conner stole the ball at the top of the key on two consecutive occasions for two fast-break layups.

At the half Augusta held the lead 30-20 led by Gee's seven first-half points. Augusta junior Kariel Hutt got into trouble early in her first four minutes of play in the first half, but Hutt returned in the second half and scored a total of 17 points with five rebound to lead Augusta.

Senior Lonna Turner ended the day with 15 points and seven boards, O'Conner 11 points and Gee 10 for Augusta.

UWG's Chloe Neil was 3-for-3 from downtown after the first three quarters and Katrina Littlepage nailed a trey with seconds closing in the third quarter to make it 48-42. The Wolves made it a six-point game at the start of the final quarter and Neil connected on two more three pointers. UWG cut the score to 60-57 on two free throws, but Gee got a steal and drove the floor for a layup that pushed the Jags ahead 65-59 with 1:52 to play in regulation.

Neil had 15 for the Wolves – hitting five three pointers and Littlepage led the team with 16 points.

The Jags held off the Wolves in the closing minutes and got to the free-throw line for the win. AU shot 68.4 percent from the charity stripe and UWG 66.7 percent.

Augusta hosts a non-conference single game at 6:00 p.m. against Clark Atlanta in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

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