AIKEN, S.C. – The GRU Augusta Jaguars outlasted rival USC Aiken 57-53 on the road to win a tight Peach Belt Conference game in the Convocation Center on Saturday night. Kariel Hutt recorded her third-straight 20 point game and her 11th double-double on the 2014-15 season.

After the opening 20 minutes of play, the Jaguars (7-16, 6-10 PBC) and USC Aiken Pacers (15-10, 11-5 PBC) were tied at 21-all. There were five lead changes and two tied scores in the first half and 19 lead changes total in the game. Both teams missed their opening offensive chances, but Carly Gilreath knocked down a three pointer to open the scoring at the 16:46 mark for the Pacers.

USCA went on a 7-0 run to start the contest, before GRU's Kelsey Fynaardt connected on a jump shot to get the Jags on the board. The Jags got to the free throw line in the next two possessions, as Kariel Hutt scored her opening points from the charity stripe. Hutt paced GRU with seven points in the first half and scored a game-high 21 points with 11 rebounds to get her 11th double-double of the year.

Hutt's jumper with 7:54 in the first half evened the score at 11-all and Joshlyn Belcher's trey gave GRU a 14-11 advantage. The scoring was tight the remainder of the first half and Kassy Johannsen's layup brought the Pacers from behind and tied the score at 21-21.

In the second half, the Jags shot 43.4 percent from the floor to USCA's 40.9 percent. Neither team shot great in the game – with the Jags owning a 35.1 field-goal percentage to Pacers' 33.3. Despite both shooting poorly from the floor, both teams were hot from the charity stripe with USCA posting a 76.9 percent to GRU's 73.3.

With just over two minutes in the game, USC Aiken took a one-point lead on Emry Tsitouris' free throw. The Jags answered with a Camille Gee layup and Hutt followed with a layup and jumper to rebuild the GRU lead to 55-50. The Pacers fouled Tavia Sykes in the paint and with 18.7 seconds on the clock, Aiken gave another foul to try and beat the clock as Kayla Roberts took to the free-throw line and hit two to put the game out of reach.

GRU hung on to win the rivalry game led by Hutt's 21 points and Joshlyn Belcher's 12 points and 10 boards. The Pacers were paced by Mackenzie Reese's 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Kassy Johannsen added 10 points off the bench.

The Jags host Francis Marion on Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m., Lander on Feb. 21 at 2:30 p.m. and USC Aiken to close out the regular season on Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

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