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PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Augusta University women's basketball team kicked off a three-game road trip in the Peach Belt Conference on Wednesday night at UNC Pembroke and fell 61-59 to the Braves.
Augusta (3-8, 1-6 PBC) and UNC Pembroke (4-7, 2-5 PBC) had the same record entering the matchup, but the Jaguars dropped their seventh game this season that was decided by 10 points or less and their third game by three points or less.
AU senior Ashley Outler turned in 20 points with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Senior Jahmia Bradley went 4-for-5 from the three-point line and ended with 16 points and seven rebounds, junior Brianna Middleton grabbed 10 rebounds, and junior Moneisha Goldsborough scored 11 with eight boards.
Each team struggled shooting from field goal range, with the Jags carding a 35.2 field-goal percentage (19-of-54) and UNCP shooting 32.9 percent (23-for-70). Augusta took an advantage beyond the arc by hitting 9-of-23 (39.1 percent) and holding the Braves to only two three pointers on 15 attempts (13.3 percent). Augusta leads the league in three-point shooting percentage (37.8) and rank second in threes made per game (6.5).
UNCP won the scoring battle in the paint, outscoring Augusta 26-16. They scored 13 points off Augusta turnovers and produced 18 off second-chance attempts. The Jags' bench outscored the Braves 10-4.
The first half was evenly matched with each team carding 25 points. The Braves built their largest lead of 16 points in the fourth quarter with 7:48 to play, but the Jaguars went on a 10-0 run to get back in the game. Augusta outrebounded UNCP 44-39 and they grabbed two offensive boards with under a minute in the game and found Bradley for a three pointer to bring the Jags within three down 55-52.
Outler stole the ball with nine seconds on the clock and Augusta called a timeout. Autumn Woodard found Bradley again for her fourth and final three pointer of the night to bring AU to a 60-59 score. Forced to foul the Braves, Augusta fell 61-59 in another close defeat.
AU heads to Dahlonega, Ga., on Saturday, Jan. 13 to take on North Georgia for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff.
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