Soph. Joshlyn Belcher sinks six three pointers in win, leads the PBC from beyond arc

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Sophomore Joshlyn Belcher leads the Peach Belt Conference in three pointers and her six from beyond the arc made the difference in an 80-73 Augusta road win at Armstrong State Wednesday night.  

After the game was sent into overtime tied at 64-64, Augusta (12-4, 5-2 PBC) lost the opening tipoff in OT, but sophomore Joshlyn Belcher got a steal and hit a go-ahead jumper before a sinking a corner three-pointer to push the Jaguars ahead. Augusta outscored Armstrong 16-9 in OT to hand the Pirates their fourth-straight loss.

For the third game this season Belcher had six three pointers and she tied her career-high with 24 total points. Senior Kariel Hutt had 14 points and nine rebounds. Hutt sits sixth in scoring (14.5 PPG) in the league and first in rebounds (11.1 RPG).

Augusta junior Kayla Lovett put up 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals, while junior Tavia Sykes had eight points and five boards. The Jags shot 46.2 percent from the floor and held the Pirates to a 36.5 field-goal percentage. The Jags were outrebounded 49-43, but shot better from the three-point and free-throw line.

Armstrong's Shermika Harris scored five quick points to boost the Pirates ahead early, but Augusta junior Breonna O'Conner nailed a three pointer and dropped in a layup on her two offensive attempts of the game. O'Conner ranks fifth in scoring (14.6 PPG) in the Peach Belt and ended the night with nine points, four boards, and two assists.

The Jags went down by 11 in the first period and trailed the rest of the way, but Belcher connected on a three pointer that put Augusta within four. Belcher scored an early eight points off the bench to help the Jags back into an even-score game.

Junior Tavia Sykes' back-to-back jumpers with under eight in the second period put Augusta ahead 26-24. Sykes' layup with 39 seconds remaining sealed the first-half lead at 37-35.

The Jags took off to a 46-35 advantage in the third period thanks to an above 50-percent field-goal percentage while holding Armstrong to under 30 percent. Junior Kayla Lovett reached double-figure points on the night with a three pointer to give Augusta a 10-point lead heading into the final period.

Armstrong took the lead with 1:26 left, but Belcher connecter from three-point land to push Augusta ahead 64-32 with 37 seconds. Brigitta Barta hit a midrange jumper to tie the game at 64-64 and the Jags missed a layup on their offensive possession sending the game into overtime.

Augusta took off strong in OT and held on for the road win to move to 12-4 overall.

Augusta hosts the Columbus State Cougars this Saturday, Jan. 16 for a 1:30 p.m. start in Christenberry Fieldhouse. The Jaguars return to Christenberry Fieldhouse on Monday, Jan. 18 for a Martin Luther King Day matchup with the Young Harris Mountain Lions at 1:30 p.m.

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