Florence's game-winning shot leads AU past USC Aiken, 65-63
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
AIKEN, S.C.—Freshman Mone Florence hit the game winning 3-pointer with nine seconds left in overtime to lead the Augusta University women’s basketball team past USC Aiken 65-63 on Wednesday, Feb. 16., at USC Aiken’s Convocation Center.
Florence finished with a season-high 17 points, shooting 5 of 7 from the three-point line.
“It was a big moment,” she said. “I worked hard for this moment, so seeing it go through the rim was ecstatic.”
After Florence’s shot put AU up two points, the Pacers sped back down the court. However, Chidinma Okafor’s jumper missed, and the Jaguars’ Kiera Howard grabbed the rebound as time expired.
The visitors struggled in the game early, shooting 3 of 17 from the field in the first quarter. They were a little bit better in the second quarter, shooting 5-13 from the field but were still down 27-23 at the half.
USC Aiken extend its lead to 42-32 in third quarter with the Jaguars continuing to struggle, shooting 2 of 8 from the field.
Senior November Morton led the Jaguars on a 9-0 run and hit a mid-range jumper to tie the game at 44-44 with 5:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Down by three, Florence made the game tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and that took the game in to overtime at 54-54.
In overtime, Grace Crawford hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining, giving the Pacers a 63-62 lead.
Florence came right back down the floor and hit the winning 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining in the game.
“She was not shooting that well early in the season, but she is in the gym every day, so it paid off for her,” said AU Coach Millette Green. “In a huge moment, she was ready to take the shot because she has seen it go through the rim at our gym, so all the hard work paid off for her.”
Morton led the Jaguars in scoring with 19 points, shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 3 of 6 from three. Florence was second with 17 points, followed by Kennedi Manning with 8 points and 11 rebound.
“At this point in the season, there is a sense of urgency for every team that is playing,” Green said. “Good, bad or ugly, we just got to find a way to win at this point. We didn’t shoot it well at all in the first half, we came out and set the tone with our defense in the second half and that was the difference.”
USC Aiken’s Okafor had a career night in the loss, finishing with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocks for the Pacers (4-11, 8-15). However, she could not make one last shot for the hosts.
The Jaguars are now sitting at 13-11 overall and 6-9 in the conference with three regular-season games remaining. Green’s team currently is in sixth place in the league standings.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
AU’s Kiera Howard (3) drives past USC Aiken’s Madison Williams (15) for a left-handed layup. At the top of the page, the Jaguars mob freshman Mone Florence (behind Ashleigh Boulin, No. 11); Florence’s game winner from behind the 3-point line came with just nine seconds left in overtime. (photos by Chris Rickerson)
