MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Augusta State held Georgia College to 28.6 percent shooting and got hot at the right time to pull away for a 45-33 win over the Bobcats Wednesday night in Peach Belt Conference action.
The win propeled ASU to 8-8 overall, and 3-5 in the PBC. Georgia College dropped to 3-12 and 1-5.
Both teams played a sloppy first half, combining for 20 turnovers as Augusta State eeked its way to a 21-16 halftime margin. The Lady Jags consistently attacked the Bobcat inbounds pass and dribble with a press defense, preventing GC from getting any offensive rhythm throughout.
Then the Lady Jag offense clicked at the right time, shooting 10-of-22 (45.5 percent) from the field in the second half to pull away, as Becky Newhouse and J Ashby combined to go 6-of-10 from behind the arc to seal the win.
Newhouse notched 12 points and 13 rebounds for her first double-double, and Ashby had 13 of her own to lead the Lady Jags, who finished the game at 38 percent from deep (8-of-21). Brittany White chipped in nine points and five steals to keep her in the nation's elite in steals per game.
Georgia College, which shot just 12-of-42 from the floor (28.6 percent) and 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) from downtown, was led by Krysta Lewis with seven points. ASU limited Shanteona Keys, the third-leading scorer in the Peach Belt, to just six points on 2-of-11 shooting on the night.
GC's 33 points mark the fewest allowed by an ASU women's team since holding Morris College to 30 in a 62-60 win on December 3, 2005, a span of 179 games.
The Lady Jags return home to start a three-game homestand, beginning Saturday, Jan. 21 against Georgia Southwestern. Tip is slated for 5:30.