Box Score Jaguars host Miracle Game to support Children's Hospital of Georgia, Children's Miracle Network
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguars remained in a tight contest with the Flagler Saints for all four periods, but dropped a 68-62 Peach Belt Conference game in the closing minute on Saturday afternoon in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
Under five minutes, the Jags stole a 59-58 lead on senior Kariel Hutt's layup. Hutt blocked the next Flagler shot and then grabbed an offensive rebound that resulted in another bucket to boost the Jags up by three. The Saints tied the game with a three pointer and a jumper took the lead that they never let go. Augusta scored one point in the final three minutes.
Augusta (14-5, 7-3 PBC) hosted the Miracle Game to support Jaguar Miracle. Jaguar Miracle is a student organization that raises money and awareness for Children's Hospital of Georgia, our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. Jaguar Miracle is composed of and run by students at Augusta University. All of the money raised by Jaguar Miracle directly benefits local sick and injured kids being treated at Children's Hospital of Georgia.
The Saints shot 39 percent from the floor to Augusta's 36.9 percent and grabbed 41 rebounds to the Jags' 40. The free-throw line was a deciding factor as Augusta was 12-of-20 (60 percent) and Flagler 19-of-23 (82.6 percent).
Senior Kariel Hutt led all players with 24 points and she chipped in five rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Junior Breonna O'Conner had 18 points, six steals, and five rebounds and senior Camille Gee put up 12 points for Augusta.
Hutt put the Jags up 9-2 with a put-back jumper in the first period over Flagler (9-8, 5-5 PBC) and sophomore Joshlyn Belcher came off the bench and sunk her first field-goal attempt to keep Augusta ahead in the fourth minute.
Flagler stormed back and took a 16-15 lead on Tiffany Hodge's fast-break layup. The Saints led 18-16 after the first period, but O'Conner converted an open-court steal into an easy game-tying layup.
The first half had five tied scores and under two minutes before halftime, Pitt hit a jumper to knot the contest at 29-all. Gee and O'Conner each had eight in the first half and O'Conner hit a corner three-pointer to open the second half for an Augusta lead.
O'Conner grabbed two steals just over five minutes to go in the third period and each possession resulted in Jaguar baskets for a 42-38 advantage. In the closing second of the third, Flagler regained the lead on a Litisha Speights layup. Speights had 14 points on the day.
Augusta missed an open-court shot and then committed a turnover to give Flagler a 58-53 lead with 5:30 remaining in regulation. After tying the game under four minutes, Augusta went cold offensively and Flagler prevailed.
Hodge led the Saints with 20 points and eight rebounds, while DeAsha Campbell scored 12.
The Jaguars travel to UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, Jan. 27 for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. The Augusta Jaguars host Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, Jan. 30 for the PBC doubleheader with Clayton State at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
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