DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Up by one basket with 18 seconds remaining, the Augusta Jaguars hit a layup from junior Breonna O'Conner to stay ahead and win a 76-60 Peach Belt Conference battle over the North Georgia Nighthawks on Thursday night.

The Jags moved to 11-3 overall and 4-1 in the PBC, while the Nighthawks slid to 11-3 and 3-2 in the league. O'Conner led Augusta with 27 points and she added six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Senior Kariel Hutt carded a double-double with 13 boards and 12 points, while junior Kayla Lovett was 3-3 from downtown and tallied 15 total points.

Sophomore Joshlyn Belcher scored nine points with two assists and two rebounds and sophomore Cynara Pitt grabbed eight rebounds with four points for the Jags.

The Jaguars shot 50 percent from the floor as a team in the first period and Lovett and Belcher connected on three pointers for a 19-17 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play. The Jags posted a 40.6 field-goal percentage for the game and connected on 7-of-13 three pointers to help take the day.

Augusta led by as much as 12 in the game and outscored the Nighthawks 19-17 in the first period and 23-15 in the second to take the first advantage. The Nighthawks turned on the offense in the third period and took the lead, but Augusta forced 21 UNG turnovers and scored 33 points off those mistakes.

UNG held the rebound battle 43-38, but the Jaguars had nine less turnovers in the contest. UNG's Kelsey Hutchins led the team with 19 points, Cierra Jackson had 18, and Molly Rainwater put up 10 points.

The Augusta University men's and women's basketball teams will host the Day of Service game on Saturday, Jan. 9 at Christenberry Fieldhouse to recognize the Augusta University Day of Service participants from across the community. The Jaguars host the Lander Bearcats for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 9. The women tip off at 1:30 p.m. and the men follow at 3:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

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