Box Score AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguars hosted the 2016 Play4 Kay Pink Out game and won a 72-65 Peach Belt Conference game over the Armstrong Pirates on Saturday afternoon in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The Jaguars moved to 18-5 overall and 11-3 in the league with the victory and the Armstrong Pirates are now 13-10 overall and 5-9 in the PBC.
The 2016 Play 4Kay Pink-Out initiative is an opportunity for a nation of coaches to raise breast cancer awareness and funds, for research on the court, across campuses, in communities, and beyond. Since its inception in 2007, the Play 4Kay initiative has raised over $5.18 million to support women's cancer research. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is the official charity of the initiative.
Augusta posted a 42.4 field-goal percentage to the Pirates' 33.8 percent. Armstrong outrebounded the Jags 54-38, but the Jaguars forced Armstrong into 24 turnovers while committing 18 of their own.
Armstrong's Tiara Baker buried a corner three pointer and two free throws from Lexy Schoonover put the Jags down by five. Head Coach Nate Teymer called a timeout down 11-2 after the Pirates hit another uncontested jumper in the lane.
Augusta junior Tavia Sykes found senior Kariel Hutt in back-to-back possessions for two buckets, before Hutt found junior Kayla Lovett for a corner three to cut the deficit to 12-9. Hutt had 14 points in the first half and ended the game with 19 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
O'Conner grabbed an offensive rebound on a missed free throw and hit a corner shot to put Augusta on top for the first time of the game. O'Conner took the ball from the Pirates on the next trip down the floor and drove the court for a fast-break bucket to lead 15-12.
The second period was back and forth, but two three pointers from Shermika Harris gave a six-point advantage back to Armstrong. The Jags were fouled on three straight possessions and made three straight layups on those plays to steal back the lead.
The first half had four lead changes as the Jags went into the locker room up 38-30 thanks to a three pointer at the buzzer from O'Conner. O'Conner led the Jags in the game with 22 points.
In the second half, Augusta led by as much as 14 in the game, but the Pirates were persistent. With under a minute left in the third period, Harris hit a three for Armstrong to bring the score to 54-49. Both teams scored 16 points in the fourth period, but the early lead from Augusta gave them edge.
Augusta hosts rival USC Aiken on Saturday, Feb. 13 for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff in Christenberry Fieldhouse. The men host the USCA Pacers at 3:30 p.m. following the women's game. The Jaguars will celebrate homecoming on Feb. 13 and 2016 Senior Day festivities will take place in between games. WJBF News Channel 6 will televise the game across the CSRA and a live band will perform in front of Christenberry starting at 10:00 a.m.
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