Box Score AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguars pulled out a 67-64 Peach Belt Conference victory over rival USC Aiken in the final seconds on Saturday afternoon for 2016 Homecoming and Senior Day!
In a televised game produced by WJBF News Channel 6, Augusta (20-5, 13-3) was tied with the Pacers (9-16, 4-12 PBC) with three seconds left when sophomore Cynara Pitt drew a foul and sunk a go-ahead free throw. Augusta forced a turnover on the in-bound pass to seal the win for six in a row.
Augusta University celebrated 2016 Homecoming & Senior Day on Saturday afternoon, honoring seniors Camille Gee, Kariel Hutt, and Samantha Carlson. Fans received free Augusta Jags t-shirts, souvenir cups, and rally towels and a live band and tailgate kicked off the day in front of Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The Jags shot 76.9 percent from the free-throw line – hitting 20-of-26 free throws, while USCA only made 2-of-5 (40 percent). The Jaguar bench outscored the Pacers 32-10.
The Pacers took a 14-4 lead in the first five minutes and Augusta called their first timeout. The Jags stormed back to a four-point deficit and sophomore Cynara Pitt took a steal the length of the floor to cut the game to a two-point affair.
A pair for free throws from junior Tavia Sykes gave Augusta their first lead at 24-23 with eight minutes in the first half, but the Pacers took halftime on top 35-34, with USCA knocking down seven three pointers in the first half. The Jags only hit one trey in the first 20 minutes, but they made 11-of-13 free throws to the Pacers' one.
Pitt had her Jaguar career-high in points with 14 in the first half and she ended the game with 20 for her new personal best. Sykes posted 12 off the bench and junior Kayla Lovett 10 in the win.
O'Conner dropped in a layup to tie the game at 37-all on a fast-break attempt. With 2:22 to go in the third quarter, O'Conner netted the game at 43-43 and buried a three pointer in the next possession. She completed a three-point play on a fouled layup to give Augusta a 49-48 lead.
Mariah Durian hit her sixth three pointer to lift Aiken up 55-53 with just over five to play. A pair of free throws from Pitt gave the Jags the advantage by two, but with 2:16 to play the Pacers were on top 61-59.
Senior Kariel Hutt made a Jaguar jumper before finding Lovett for a corner three under a minute for a 64-61 lead. Durian buried her seventh trey ball of the game to tie the game at 64-all, but Pitt drew a foul with three seconds remaining and hit a free throw to cap the win.
Augusta travels for their next final three regular-season games, beginning with a trip to Francis Marion on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
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