GREENWOOD, S.C. – Sitting a game behind Lander University in the Peach Belt Conference East Division, the Augusta Jaguars women's basketball team (20-7, 13-5 PBC) fell to the Lander Bearcats (21-6, 15-3 PBC) 73-64 in a matchup between two of the hottest teams in the PBC right now on Saturday afternoon in Greenwood, S.C.. Lander grabs the eastern title in the PBC with the win.

The Jaguars fell despite better shooting percentage's across the board. Augusta shot 44.4 percent from the floor on the day and 54.5 percent from three-point range against 40 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from three-point range for the Bearcats. The difference ended up being free throws, with the Jaguars making 10, shooting 66.7 percent and Lander making 19, shooting 82.6 percent.

Junior Breonna O'Conner led the way in scoring for the Jaguars, recording 19 points and six boards. Senior Kariel Hutt posted a double-double in the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Jaguars struggled early shooting, only making a single basket in the first seven minutes of play. Lander took advantage and led by as many as 13 in the first quarter. Augusta began to find their rhythm late in the first quarter and a clutch three-pointer by Sophomore Joshlyn Belcher with just under 2:00 remaining in the quarter brought the Jags to within five.

Although Augusta closed the lead to a manageable margin, the Bearcats continued to control the game in the second quarter. With 4:39 left in the half, Lander stretched their lead back out to 13 to tie their largest lead of the game so far. That was as large as the lead would get in the half, however, as the Jaguars went on a 13-4 tear to end the half, kicked off by a long three from O'Conner.

The Jaguars started the second half strong, never letting the lead get to more than seven. With 3:21 to go in the third quarter, the Jaguars finally saw the first tie of the game with a made free-throw by Junior Kayla Lovett. After another brief lead, a fast-break layup by O'Conner sent the game into the fourth quarter tied.

Augusta saw their first lead of the game in the beginning of the fourth quarter with a jumper in the paint from Hutt. The Jaguars stretched their lead to as much as six before Lander went on a run to tie the game with 5:47 to go. The next couple of minutes saw a back and fourth game with several lead changes until an 11-0 run by Lander put them on top by nine with just under 2:00 to play. The Jaguars would not recover from giving up that run, as they fell 73-64 and Lander clinched the PBC Eastern Division.

The Augusta Jaguars play at rival USC Aiken on Wednesday, Feb. 24 for their final regular-season game at 5:30 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

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