By Cameron Windley |Sports writerAfter beating Clark Atlanta 68-61 on Saturday, Nov. 16, the Augusta University women’s basketball team has suffered through a three-game losing streak as it prepares for the game with city rival Paine College on Saturday, Dec. 7.The first loss during the skid was against No. 24 Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., on Nov. 26. Benedict easily defeated the Jags 78-34.The Jags then played Shaw during the Virginia State Thanksgiving Tournament in Petersburg, Va., and they lost a very close game 60-56. The game was out of hand during the first half as the Jags only scored 10 points over two quarters of play, to Shaw’s 24. The Jaguars did make a comeback in the second half as they outscored Benedict 46-36. However, it wasn’t enough as Benedict pulled away. Zairya West scored 20 points against Benedict, and Kennedi Manning led the team in rebounding with seven boards.The Jags then lost to host Virginia State 71-56. Augusta tried to ride its momentum from the second half of the Shaw game, and the Jaguars put up a good fight early in the game. The Jags trailed by only six at halftime, but Virginia State outscored AU 36-28 in the second half. Both teams shot less than 40 percent, and a cold night at the free-throw line hurt the Jags as they only hit 9 of 20.Against VSU, the scoring leaders for the Jags were Crystal Corley with 14 points. West and Jaelyn Autman both had 10 points.The Jags host beat Paine College Lions at Christenberry Fieldhouse at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Contact Cameron Windley at CWINDLEY@augusta.edu.