Manning leads AU to sixth straight win, 4-0 start to the PBC campaign
Justin Gray | Sports editor
It was another big day for the Augusta women as they dominated their rival USC Aiken 75-61 at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 13.
The Lady Jaguars came into the college basketball game having won five straight games, and they didn’t cool down in this one.
From the start of the game, it was all Jaguars as Autumn Phillips knocked down two 3-pointers on the Jaguars’ first two possessions.
They rolled behind Kennedi Manning to a 44-19 halftime lead, which AU Coach Celeste Stewart was happy with.
“I think we played well in the first half offensively; we were able to execute well,” said Stewart.
The Jaguar women continued to play well in the second half, leading them to the 24-point victory.
This was one of their best performances on the offensive side with four players scoring in double-digit points. Most of those points came from the paint as that was where they attacked all game long.
Forty-eight of the Jaguars 75 points came from the paint, thanks to Manning and Malia Grace, who combined for 27. Manning led all scorers with 17 points.
Manning also totaled nine rebounds; she has been a large part of the success this team has had this season.
“She does a good job of drawing defenders,” said Stewart of her senior center. “Usually, she’s double teamed, or triple teamed. Today, she was able to get loose a little bit and get some easy scores at the basket. She was able to fight through some adversity as well.”
Tomiyah Alford and Phillips both did their part in the Lady Jaguars win. Alford scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Phillips went for 10 points and seven rebounds.
USC Aiken’s leading scorers were Jentri Worley and Marta Rivera. Both had 12 points for the Pacers (0-4, 4-10).
Augusta improved to 10-4 overall and 4-0 in the conference with this win. This is the Lady Jaguars best start in conference play since 1992-93.
Next up for the Jaguars is a trip to Flagler on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Tipoff will be 5:30 p.m.
Contact Justin Gray at jusgray@augusta.edu.
Tomiyah Alford (12) goes up for two of her 12 points in Augusta’s 75-61 victory over USC Aiken. At the top of the page, Kennedy Manning (24) was dominant with a 17-point, nine-rebounding outing. (photos by Paula Toole, AU Athletics)
