AUGUSTA, Ga. – Playing at crosstown rival Paine College on Monday night, the Augusta University women's basketball team gave up a jump shot with six seconds left to drop a 72-70 non-conference game in The HEAL Complex.
Augusta (13-11) shot 43.5 percent from the floor (27-of-62) to Paine's 44.3 field-goal percentage (27-of-61). The Jags made 4-of-14 from the arc to PC's 1-of-9, but the Lions hit 17-if-24 at the free-throw line to Augusta's 12-for-21.
Paine had a one-point game and grabbed a rebound before they called a timeout with 30 seconds to play in the game. Down 70-69 to the Jaguars, Paine hit a spin-move layup from Kayla Lewis to steal a 71-70 lead with six seconds left in the game and survive for the win.
It is the first time Paine has beat Augusta women's hoops since Dec. 3, 2009 when they won 59-58 in Christenberry Fieldhouse \.
Augusta's Abrea Harris led the team again with 21 points and eight rebounds. Senior Breonna O'Conner put up 15 points with six steals, junior Cynara Pitt had 13 points and six boards, and senior Kayla Lovett 10 points
Paine was led Janisha Wilkerson's 30 points and 10 rebounds. PC outrebounded Augusta 40-38 in the win.
The Jags held an 18-10 lead after the first period and led safely into the opening minutes of the second. Paine produced a few turnovers and made a one-point game with 7:25 to play in the first half. A technical foul on AU led to a pair of free throws from the Lions that gave them a 19-18 lead.
Two more at the charity stripe from Wilkerson made it 21-18 Paine, but Augusta hit a trey to knot the contest. The game was back and forth and went into the halftime locker room tied 31-all.
Paine closed the third period on an offensive streak and led by 10 with under a minute to play in the period. PC remained up by 10 until AU made three in a row for a 60-56 contest with 5:22 on the clock.
O'Conner got her fifth steal of the game in the next possession and recorded a three-point, and-one play to trail by one. A pair of free throws from Lovett gave Augusta the lead and O'Conner carded another steal which led to a fast break layup. PC came away with the late basket for the win.
The Jaguars host the 2017 Homecoming Games on Saturday, Feb. 13 with a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader in Christenberry Fieldhouse against the Lander Bearcats. The women tip at 1:30 p.m. and the men follow at 3:30 p.m.
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