By Carlos Rodriguez |Sports writerThe Augusta University women’s basketball team defeated Georgia College 65-51, on Saturday, Feb. 29, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.It was the final game of the regular season and also Senior Day. Seniors Cameryn Wilson and Moneisha Goldsborough were honored as they played their last game at the Fieldhouse.Junior Zariya West led with 17 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Freshman Kennedi Manning added 14 points and seven rebounds while junior Stella Logbognon contributed 13 points off the bench.“My teammates did a great job of finding me,” said West. “I think I let my defense fuel my offense, get steals and deflections. Overall, it was a good win for the team.”Augusta Coach Millette Green agreed that defense was the key.“I think it started on the defense end,” said Green on what worked out to secure the win. “We just all locked into our defensive principles, and rebounding the basketball, got out and ran the floor, scored some points in transition and scored some points off our defense."With the win, AU finished the regular season 12-16 overall and 9-11 in the Peach Belt Conference and are currently riding a three-game winning streak while winning five of the last six games.A couple of weeks ago, Augusta was on an eight-game losing streak but turned things around at the right time to climb up the conference standings and now sit in a tie for seventh place with Young Harris. The top eight teams in the conference make it to the conference tournament, which means the Jags will compete in the PBC Tournament for the first time since the 2015-16 season.“During the course of the losing streak, as a coaching staff we talked about we were getting better we just weren’t reaping the reward of a win,” said Green. “They stayed the course and showed some toughness and got momentum going into the conference tournament. We’re going to reevaluate things, see where we are seeded, and go from there, March Madness, survive and advance.”AU has been given the No. 7 seed in the tournament and will head on the road on Wednesday, March 4, to take on the No. 2 seed North Georgia in the first round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament at 6 p.m.In the first quarter of the game Saturday, the Bobcats got out to a 7-0 run. Manning got the Jags on board after a bucket inside with 4:51 remaining. Georgia College’s scored nine more points the rest of the quarter receiving all nine from Harper Vick. In the final minute Logbognon made two layups as the Jags trailed 16-10 after the first.AU started off the second quarter strong with a 10-0 run. Manning started the run with a layup at the 9:45 mark, and Wilson capped off the run with a three-pointer, as the Jags led 20-16 with 7:28 left to play. Vick scored the Bobcats first basket with a three-pointer of her own to cut the lead to 20-19 with 6:31 remaining. Jaycie Bowen cut AU’s lead to 25-24 after hitting a three-pointer.With 1:42 remaining West drove through the lane and drew contact, making an and-one layup while converting on the free throw attempt to give AU a 28-24 lead. The Bobcats received baskets from Dakota Williamson and Keyonna Wesley that gave them a 29-28 lead over AU at the half.At the half Logbognon had seven points while Manning and Wilson both had six. Vick and Wesley had 13 and nine points, respectively, for the Bobcats.“Stella probably had the best game in her career,” said Green. “Stella had a kickout to Zariya for a wide open three, so having that presence inside opens up the outside for us to get wide open shots.”Manning and West both made layups in the opening minute of the third quarter to give Augusta a 32-29 lead. Vick knocked down a free throw with 7:46 remaining to give Georgia College their first point of the quarter which would be their only point for a while. After Vick’s free throw make, the very next possession the Jaguars started a 15-0 run.Manning started the run once again after driving through the lane and making a layup. With 5:47 remaining AU increased their lead to 41-30 after Kiera Howard dished a bounce pass to Wilson, who cut to the basket for a layup. The lead grew to 17 after West picked Christen Copeland’s pocket and finished on a layup with 3:43 remaining.Wesley made a layup for the Bobcats to end the run to cut AU’s lead to 47-32 with three minutes left to play. Forwards Logbognon and Manning made two layups that wrapped up the big third quarter for the Jags as they led 51-32. Augusta outscored Georgia College 23-3 in the quarter.At the start of the fourth quarter, Vick knocked down three out of four free throw attempts to cut AU’s lead to 51-35. Logbognon scored AU’s first bucket of the quarter on a layup, giving the Jaguars a 53-35 lead with nine minutes left to play. At the 5:31 mark West hit a three-pointer that gave Augusta a 60-42 lead. The Bobcats tried to come back but could only cut the deficit to as little as 13 after Delayne Rotolo knocked down a three as they trailed 62-49 with a minute left.In the final minute, Moneisha Goldsborough checked into the game to step out on the floor at Christenberry Fieldhouse one last time. In her first possession on the floor, Goldsborough knocked down a three-pointer, as she received loud cheers from the fans and her teammates. A few seconds later, the two seniors, Wilson and Goldsborough, checked out the game and received more cheers from the fans, teammates and coaches.“It’s a bittersweet moment for me,” said Wilson. “I’ve had my ups and downs throughout the season, but overall I wouldn’t change this team for anything. Just being the last game and coming out with a win is an amazing feeling.”With the loss, Georgia College ends their season at 5-23 overall and 2-18 in the PBC.
Contact Carlos Rodriguez at carlosjr521@gmail.com.