Abercrombie’s buzzer-beater lifts Jaguar women to thrilling win over Flagler
By Jaxon Garner | Editor in Chief
With just 1.9 seconds remaining in a tied game, Quinasia Abercrombie delivered a clutch buzzer-beater to secure a dramatic 70-68 win for Augusta University (4-1, 12-3) over Flagler College (2-3, 6-8) on Wednesday night.
The Flagler Saints set the tone early, opening with a 10-3 run and maintaining a fresh rotation throughout the game by subbing five players in and out at a time. No Flagler player averages more than 30 minutes per game; a sharp difference to Augusta’s leading scorers, Autumn Phillips and Mone Florence, who both play over 30 minutes on average.
“We knew coming in that they play a lot of players,” Jaguars coach Celeste Stewart said. “The way they pressed the whole game, they needed those fresh legs in.”
The Saints carried their momentum through the first quarter, holding the Jaguars to just 10 points—their lowest first-quarter total since a Nov. 13 matchup against Newberry. Augusta trailed 16-10 at the end of the period.
“We were playing too fast,” said Stewart. “My message to the team was to just settle down and play how we know we can.”
In the second quarter, the Jaguars struggled to close the gap, as each of their baskets was quickly answered by Flagler. However, Elyse Autrey sparked the offense with a 3-pointer that trimmed the deficit to 25-23 with just over three minutes left in the half.
The Jaguars tied the game in the final minute of the second quarter with a layup by Quinasia Abercrombie. Determined to take the lead into halftime, Augusta’s defense forced a stop on Flagler’s final possession. Autrey drove the ball down the court and dished it to Sierra Burns, who drained a jumper at the buzzer to put the Jaguars ahead 29-27.
“The momentum means a lot going into the half,” said Stewart. “We could have easily held the ball and went in tied but we got an open look and took it.”
At halftime, Abercrombie led Augusta with eight points, while Autrey contributed six. For the Saints, Jazmine Major had seven points.
The Jaguars came out of halftime firing, with Autrey scoring the first four points of the third quarter. Augusta’s aggressive defensive approach continued, forcing four turnovers midway through the period against a Flagler team that leads the Peach Belt Conference in the fewest turnovers per game.
“We came into the game with the mentality to force turnovers,” said Stewart. “We mixed up our zones and presses.”
Despite the Jaguars’ pressure, Flagler fought back. Emerson Kutz hit a 3-pointer with 1:32 remaining in the third quarter, tying the game at 47. The Jaguars responded with a 5-0 run to end the quarter, taking a 52-47 lead into the fourth.
Augusta extended its lead early in the fourth when Phillips hit a deep 3-pointer following a layup by Flagler’s Se’Lah Reddick, giving the Jaguars their largest lead of the night at 55-49.
Flagler, however, stormed back with an 11-2 run led by Destiny McClendon, who scored nine of those points to give the Saints a 62-58 lead.
“We just have to stay true to what we do,” said Stewart. “I kept telling the team, ‘This is our challenge, we can overcome it.’”
The Jaguars answered with a 6-0 run to regain a 64-62 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. Flagler tied the game at 64 after multiple trips to the free-throw line.
The back-and-forth battle continued as Augusta took a 66-64 lead off an Abercrombie layup. Flagler tied it again at 68 with 28 seconds left, as Major hit two free throws.
On Augusta’s final possession, Abercrombie drove to the basket for a go-ahead layup, but an offensive foul gave the ball back to Flagler with six seconds remaining.
On the ensuing inbound pass, the Jaguars tipped the ball, forcing a turnover with 1.9 seconds left. With the game on the line, Coach Stewart drew up a perfectly executed play, with Phillips lobbing a makeshift alley-oop to Abercrombie, who laid it in at the buzzer to seal a thrilling 70-68 win.
“We have run that play so much in practice,” said Stewart.
““I told them, ‘We are about to win this game,’ and they executed it.” ”
The Jaguars were led by the phenomenal freshman duo of Quinasia Abercrombie with 21 points and Elyse Autrey with 18 points. Both Abercrombie and Autrey totaled a career-high in points. The Saints were led by Se'Lah Reddick and Destiny McClendon who each had 16 points.
“They are just competitors,” Stewart said. “They have been that way since they got here, I am glad they are getting to showcase it.”
The victory marked Augusta’s second straight win after defeating USC Aiken on Jan. 12. The Jaguars will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 18, for Student Appreciation Night against Georgia Southwestern University with a 7:30 a.m. tipoff.
Jaguars, Brianna Meekins (21) puts up a shot over Flagler defenders (photo by Paula Toole/AU Athletics). At top of the page, Quinasia Abercrombie (24) puts up the game winning shot (photo by Paula Toole/AU Athletics).
Contact Jaxon Garner at jaxgarner@augusta.edu
