(Story courtesy augustajags.com)
The Augusta University women’s basketball team fell in overtime to Belmont Abbey 54-52 in a hard fought game at Christenberry Fieldhouse Saturday. The Jaguars fall to 4-2 overall while the Crusaders are 3-2.
In the extra session, Tyasia Freeman would hit a couple of free throws to give the Jaguars the lead, only to see the Crusaders tie it on a pair of their own. In the closing minutes, Belmont hit six free throws that would put them ahead for good and seal the fate for the Jaguars. Augusta had a chance with seven seconds left to tie it, but the shot was off the mark and Belmont would hang on for the win.
The Jaguars took a three point lead with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter on a jumper by Autumn Phillips, but the Crusaders would knot the score at 46 with a three-pointer with just over a minute to play. Belmont Abbey had a chance to win it in regulation, but the shot was off the mark as the two teams went to overtime.
Autumn Phillips poured in a game high 26 points on 11 of 17 shooting to lead AU. Elyse Autrey added eight points.
Mone Florence and Freeman each grabbed six rebounds
Augusta would lead by two after the opening quarter only to see Belmont Abbey surge to a 31-24 lead at the half. The Jaguars outscored the Crusaders nine to eight in the third quarter as both teams found getting points tough to come by all day long.
Neither team shot the ball well in what became a half-court game throughout as AU hit on 33.9% of their shots while BAC made 36% of their shots. The Jaguars did hold a six rebound margin. AU also turned the ball over 16 times to the Crusaders 20. Belmont Abbey did plenty of damage from beyond the three point line making eight of their attempts as Augusta connected on just three.
The Augusta University women will travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Dec. 4 when they square off with Converse University.
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