Augusta, Ga - Augusta women's basketball held off a pesky Lander team to pick up a 70-58 win Monday night at Christenberry Fieldhouse. Mone Florence led the Jaguars with 17 points as they improved to 9-5 in Peach Belt Conference play and 17-7 overall. The Bearcats are now 6-8 in conference and 11-10 overall.

Augusta led 14-10 after the opening quarter and extended the lead midway through the second quarter on back-to-back baskets by Elyse Autrey and Yamani Paul, pushing the lead to seven points. Two Quinasia Abercrombie free throws made it 32-24 at the half.

The lead grew to double figures in the third quarter as Tyasia Freeman and Paul sank four straight free throws.

A pair of three-pointers by Sierra Burns and Paul to start the fourth, followed by a basket from Freeman, extended the lead to 18. Lander made a late charge, cutting the deficit to five points, but clutch free-throw shooting in the final minutes secured the win for AU.

Florence led the AU charge with 17 points, hitting seven of eight free throws. Paul added 11 points, while Autrey finished with nine.

For the game, the Jaguars went 21 of 25 from the foul line, an 84% clip that proved to be the difference.

Augusta also held Lander to just two three-pointers and forced 19 turnovers.

The Jaguars and Bearcats will meet again on Wednesday night, this time at Finis Horne Arena on the campus of Lander in Greenwood, S.C.