Jaguar women earn Homecoming victory against Flagler, push win streak to three

By Katron Hugee | Sports writer

Augusta University’s women basketball defeated the Flagler Saints 71-66 in the Jaguars’ Homecoming game on Saturday. Feb. 19, at Christenberry Fieldhouse. 

This win marked the third straight for the Jaguars coming off two road victories against Young Harris College and USC Aiken. That improved their conference record to 7-8 and their overall record to 14-11, while Flagler College dropped to a 5-11 conference record and 11-15 overall.

Coach Millette Green talked about one of the keys for AU’s late-season surge.

“We just keep emphasizing to the team one game at a time, moving past the last game and going to the next and trying to get them focused in the moment,” Green said.

The game began with the Jaguars going on a quick 8-0 run to snag a 10-4 lead early in the first quarter. Flagler responded with a 8-0 run of its own to reclaim the lead, but after a 15-15 tie the Jaguars would end the first quarter up 20-17.

After a 3-pointer by the Saints to tie the game at 20 to start the second quarter, AU would go on a 7-0 run making the score 27-20. Flagler would cut the deficit down to three at 29-26 but the Jaguars would go into halftime with a four point advantage at 32-28.

The third quarter started with each team trading baskets as Flagler cut the lead to 37-35. Then a 9-0 Jaguars’ run would propel them to a 46-35 lead forcing a Saints timeout. 

This run was aided by Jaelyn Autman, who hit two free throws, followed by a fast-break layup. She then forced a jump ball, giving AU the possession. That led to a 3-pointer by Mone Florence.

A corner 3-pointer from AU’s November Morton out of the timeout would extend the run to 12-0 and the lead to 14. Flagler would respond with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to eight, but a 7-0 run by the Jaguars would give them their largest lead of 15. AU would end the quarter quarter up 11 at 58-47. 

The Saints would start the fourth quarter with four straight points, making their overall run 8-0 and cutting their deficit back down to seven.  The Jaguars would once again respond with a 5-0 run, pushing their lead back up to 12 at 63-51 with about 6 minutes remaining.

AU would have an eight-point lead with about two minutes remaining, but the Saints’ full-court press trapping defense would help lead to back-to-back steals for Flagler’s Tori Pearce. Those resulted in two fast-break layups.

The second one came with a foul and after Pearce’s free throw, it was a three-point game with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. That capped a 9-0 Saints’ run.

After two made free throws from Kiera Howard, a 3-pointer from Flagler’s Jaziana Mathis would cut the Jaguar lead to two at 65-63 with 58 seconds left.

The Jaguars would use up most of the shot clock in the next possession and as the shot clock came within five seconds, a penetration bounce pass from Kiera Howard to Kennedi Manning would put AU back up four with 29 seconds remaining. That would prove to be the difference as the Jaguars would hold on to win by five points. 

All three games of the win streak have been decided by five points or fewer, including the game-winning 3-pointer made by Florence in the team’s last contest at USC Aiken. The AU team has had multiple close outcomes throughout its season, including two overtime losses earlier in the year. 

“I guess it's fun for the fans, but it’s very stressful for the coaches,” Green said jokingly. “But that’s an area we’ve got to get better at, extending the lead and not allowing teams to get comfortable. The last game in Aiken taught us that we can come from behind and win and now us figuring out how to extend the lead and close it out.” 

This win streak comes with two games left in the Jaguars’ regular season first at home against University of North Georgia on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and then closing it out on the road at Clayton State University on Feb. 26.

“We’re working to reach our peak.” Green said. “It’s coming together, I’m seeing people step up and I tell them ‘we need the best version of you right now for us’ and that’s one through 13.”

Contact Katron Hugee at khugee@augusta.edu.

Kiera Howard led the way for AU with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the victory over the Saints. (photo by AU Athletics) At the top of the page, the Jaguars huddle up a midcourt just before tipoff. (photo by Madison Keel)