Lady Jags Edge Montevallo

Lady Jags Edge Montevallo

MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- Augusta State picked up a key road win Saturday afternoon, downing Montevallo 64-59 in a Peach Belt Conference contest in BankTrust Arena.

The victory improved the Lady Jaguars to 10-10 overall and 5-7 in the PBC, while the Falcons dropped to 7-11 on the season and 2-7 in the league.

With the victory, the Lady Jags tallied a double-digit win total for the first time since the 2007-08 season and have registered their most league wins since that same year.

J Ashby booked a team-best 14 points and four steals for ASU, which shot 57.1 percent in the second half and 48.0 percent for the game (24-of-50). Amber Peterson and Eryka Menzies contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench and Marina Fox chipped in eight points and seven rebounds. The Lady Jags connected on eight 3-pointers, just three days after registering a season-high nine treys vs. UNC Pembroke,

Taylor Beverly turned in a game-high 16 points and Teanna Boxley popped in 14 for the Falcons.

ASU used a 14-4 run midway through the first half to open up a double-digit lead. Menzies drained a 3-pointer at the 7:39 mark to give the Lady Jags a 24-10 advantage. Brittany White's layup with 1:18 left put ASU ahead 32-20 at the break.

The Lady Jags led by as many as 17 after an Ashley Vickers' layup with 12:58 to play put ASU in front 46-29. Montevallo countered with nine straight points before a Peterson 3-pointer gave the Lady Jags a 10-point cushion at 54-44 with 7:30 remaining.

The Falcons inched within six on two occasions before Ashby slowed their momentum with a jumper for a 60-52 ASU lead with 2:35 left. UM's Alex Strickland connected on a trey 14 seconds later and consecutive ASU turnovers led to a pair of layups to pull the Falcons within 60-59 with only 1:12 to go.

The Lady Jags answered 28 seconds later with a Becky Newhouse bucket for a 62-59 lead. Following a Montevallo turnover and two fouls to put ASU in the bonus, Peterson knocked down a pair of free throws for a 65-59 edge with 12 ticks left, and the Falcons could only muster one field goal attempt.

The Lady Jags return to action next Saturday, Feb. 4 when they host Flagler for Military Appreciation Day at 1:30 p.m., in Christenberry Fieldhouse.