Jaguars win a 65-49 non-conference game to move to 9-2 on the year

AUGUSTA, Ga. – On a New Year's Eve matchup against non-conference Claflin, the Augusta Jaguars won their sixth-consecutive game with a 65-49 victory in The HEAL Complex on the campus of Paine College.

Augusta moved to 9-2 overall with the win, while Claflin slid to 8-5 on the year. The Jaguars shot 41.0 percent rom the floor and held Claflin to a 34.5 field-goal percentage. Augusta had 35 points in the paint to Claflin's 26 and they outrebounded the Panthers 44-37.

Playing at Paine College due to a floor renovation, the Jaguars used a 6-0 run to start the game and take control early. They led 24-10 after the first period, but the Panthers cut the lead on a 21-to-2 run and trailed 26-22 with 4:30 to go in the first half.

The Jags went cold in the first six minutes of the second period, but they turned it around to close the half. Junior Kayla Lovett hit a Jaguar layup to end the Claflin run and a Camille Gee three pointer from the top of the key kept Augusta ahead. Junior Breonna O'Conner and senior Samantha Carlson hit layups in back-to-back possessions to take a 37-28 lead into the half.

O'Conner had 12 first-half points and Gee contributed 10 points and four rebounds in the first half.

O'Conner stayed strong in the second half and pushed Augusta to a 50-32 lead with a pair of free throws at the five minute mark in the third quarter. Sophomore Cynara Pitt gave the Jags a 20-point advantage with 3:30 to play in the third quarter and Augusta held off the Panthers for the win.

O'Conner led all players with 21 points, Gee had 14 total with five rebounds and two assists, and Kayla Lovett and Kariel Hutt each had 11 points. Lovett added four assists and a steal and Hutt turned in six boards and an assist. The Jags hit 11-14 free throws (78.6 %) and used a 24-10 first-period run to take the day.

The Jaguars return to Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 2 when they host UNC Pembroke at 1:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse. The Augusta men host the UNCP Braves at 3:30 p.m.

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