Box Score Six Jaguars school in double-figure points to lead Augusta to Peach Belt win
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguars had six players score in double figures to outlast the No. 13 Columbus State Cougars for a 79-72 Peach Belt Conference win in Christenberry Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.
Augusta (13-4, 6-2 PBC) was paced by Kayla Lovett's 16 and Joshlyn Belcher and Kariel Hutt's 14 each. Camille Gee added 11 points and Cynara Pitt and Tavia Sykes put up 10 each. Hutt added 10 rebounds for another double-double on the season.
The Jags shot 92.0% from the free-throw line (23-of-25) while Columbus State (12-3, 6-2 PBC) hit 9-of-12 (75%). The Cougars entered the game ranked No. 13 in the nation and 9-1 in their last 10 matchups, but Augusta's 49.1 FG% gave them the edge over CSU's 42.6FG%.
CSU hit the opening shot with a Gabby Williams three pointer, but Augusta took their first lead at 9-7 after two Camille Gee free throws. The Cougars regained a nine-point lead with Williams connecting in the lane and the Jags giving up offensive rebounds. Williams had all 11 of her points in the first half for the Cougars.
Down by 10 with under 10 seconds in the first period, Augusta cut it to 27-20 when junior Kayla Lovett beat the buzzer with a half-court three pointer. Sykes made the first shot in the second period for the Jags and freshman Mallory Myers found Belcher in the corner for a game-tying trey. Hutt lifted the Jags ahead 29-27 with 6:30 to play in the first half on a good jumper.
The score remained balanced in the closing five minutes of the opening half. Gee rolled in a contested jumper with one minute to go and she found Hutt in the paint to boost Augusta up 40-37 heading into the break. Gee had nine points at the pause and put up 11 total with five assists.
The Jags forced three turnovers to start the second half and took a 51-42 lead on Lovett's fast-break layup – resulting in a CSU timeout. Belcher hit three free throws after being on a shot attempt to boost the Jags up by 10.
Ahead by three under two minutes after CSU made a slight run, Augusta preserved a safe lead when Turner found Hutt under the basket for a good layup. CSU was forced to foul in the final possessions for the Jags to pull out a 79-72 win.
The Jaguars host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Monday, Jan. 18 for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day matchup at 1:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse. The Augusta men tipoff at 3:30 p.m. and The Family Y of Augusta South will hold a youth boys basketball game during the men's halftime on the Christenberry gym floor.
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