Lady Jaguars snap skid with dominant win over Georgia College

By Jaxon Garner | Editor in Chief

The Augusta University women’s basketball team (5-3 PBC, 13-5) defeated the Georgia College Bobcats (4-5 PBC, 11-8) 63-33 on Jan. 29, delivering a dominant defensive performance.

The Lady Jaguars entered the game determined to snap a two-game losing streak after recent setbacks against Georgia Southwestern and No. 5 North Georgia. The loss to North Georgia was particularly heartbreaking, coming down to a missed free throw in the final seconds that could have forced overtime.

Head coach Celeste Stewart emphasized the importance of returning to the win column as the season approaches a challenging stretch, with seven of the team’s final 10 games on the road.

“We talked about this game being a must-win for us,” Stewart said. “With the conference being so tight, we have to make sure we are defending our home court.”

A key storyline in the matchup against the Bobcats was the battle in the paint between Jaguar freshman standout Quinasia Abercrombie and GCSU’s Jada Warren. Both players rank among the top three in rebounds per game in the Peach Belt Conference. Warren averages 14.3 rebounds per game, while Abercrombie averages seven. The Bobcats also lead the PBC in every other rebounding category.

“That challenge was a huge emphasis going into tonight,” Stewart said. “I think they took on the challenge.”

The Jaguars held Warren to just eight rebounds.

In a game featuring two of the conference’s most efficient defenses, it took over three minutes for both teams to get on the scoreboard. At the first media timeout, the game was tied 4-4 with 3:46 remaining in the first quarter.

The scoring picked up for both offenses as the Jaguars took a 12-8 lead into the second quarter. Six different players contributed baskets for Augusta in the first quarter. The Jaguars also edged the Bobcats in rebounding, 11-9.

The scoring slowed again in the second quarter until the Jaguars went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a Mone Florence 3-pointer, to take a 17-10 lead with 4:49 remaining. The Jaguars remained in control, taking a 21-14 lead into halftime.

Florence led Augusta with seven points, while Sierra Burns added four. For the Bobcats, Deshona Gaither led the team with six points and seven rebounds.

“Coming out of halftime, we just needed to keep executing,” Stewart said. “I told the team we were getting good looks and to keep moving the ball around.”

The Bobcats opened the third quarter with a 4-0 run, cutting the Jaguars’ lead to 21-18. The run ended when Florence went down with what appeared to be a lower back injury.

“From what I understand, it’s just a strain,” Stewart said. “When one person goes down, it’s the next woman up. They were prepared for that and did it well.”

The Jaguars responded with a 4-0 run of their own to extend the lead to 25-18 with 7:26 remaining in the third quarter. They maintained control throughout the quarter, closing it out with a commanding 47-24 lead, thanks in part to Autumn Phillips’ nine-point effort.

The Lady Jaguars eased up in the fourth quarter but maintained their lead to secure a 63-33 victory over the Bobcats.

Yamani Paul led Augusta with a double-double, recording 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Bobcats were led by Miracle Parker and Deshona Gaither, who each contributed six points.

The Jaguars will aim to build on their success as they travel to face Columbus State, currently second in the PBC standings.

“We need to work on taking care of the ball in the backcourt,” Stewart said. “We need to continue playing smart and valuing every possession.”

Image at the top of the screen is Mone Florence (#1) driving to the paint versus Georgia College. (Photo by Lydia Williams/The Bell Ringer).

Contact Jaxon Garner at jaxgarner@augusta.edu