AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University women's basketball team started Peach Belt Conference play with a 73-63 loss at North Georgia on Friday night in Memorial Hall.
Leading the PBC East Division, Augusta (4-2, 0-1 PBC) trailed by single digits in the closing two minutes, but couldn't climb past the Nighthawks as the game went to the free-throw line.
At the half each team had 15 rebounds, but North Georgia owned the glass 42-37 for the game. The scoring from field-goal range was similar on both sides with the Nighthawks shooting 43.3 percent and Augusta 42.2 percent. The teams combined to make seven three pointers total, with UNG hitting 4-of-12 and the Jags 3-of-17.
The Jaguars were outscored 11-6 at the charity stripe and had 11 turnovers to UNG's 10.
Jaguar junior Abrea Harris went 5-for-9 from the floor to total 12 first-half points and she finished with 14 and three rebounds. Senior Breonna O'Conner 13 points with three rebounds, and a pair of steal and assists. Junior JJ Williams came off the bench for 12 and senior Kayla Lovett dished four assists with 10 points.
Augusta had a 51.6 field-goal percentage in the first half to North Georgia's 48.4 percent, but the Nighthawks outscored the Jags 8-to-4 on second chance points in the first half.
North Georgia led 40-35 to start the second half. The score deficit never grew beyond eight in the opening 20 minutes and it stayed within 10 down to the last five minutes in the game. Lovett hit a layup to make it 64-58 and in the next possession she nailed a jumper for a 66-60 game.
Kelsey Hutchins' layup put UNG back up by 10 with 1:38 to play, before Williams hit her second three pointer. Jordan Livesay got to the free-throw line and hit a pair to hold off the Jaguars as UNG won 73-63.
Danyelle Blankinship and Julie McKie each scored 10 in the first half and McKie ended with 16 and Blankinship 14. Hutchins ended with 14 points
Augusta continues road play in the Peach Belt with a trip to Columbus Ga., on Monday Dec. 19. The Jaguars face the Columbus State Cougars at 5:30 p.m. in the Lumpkin Center.
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