AMERICUS, Ga. — The Georgia Southwestern State University women's basketball team ran into a red-hot shooting performance Saturday night as Augusta University pulled away for a 71-54 Peach Belt Conference victory inside the Storm Dome.
The loss marked the Lady Hurricanes' sixth defeat in their last seven games and fourth straight at home, dropping GSW to 9-11 overall and 5-8 in league play. Augusta, which led for nearly the entire contest, improved to 14-6 overall and 9-4 in the Peach Belt and avenged an early-season loss on their home floor to GSW.
The Lady Hurricanes struggled to find rhythm offensively, finishing 0-for-16 from beyond the arc and 10-for-21 at the free-throw line, while Augusta shot 63.0 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from three-point range.
Early Augusta Run Sets the Tone
Augusta seized control early, opening the game on a 19-8 first-quarter run while holding Georgia Southwestern to three field goals in the opening 10 minutes. The Jaguars attacked the paint consistently and capitalized on clean perimeter looks, quickly building a double-digit cushion.
Despite the slow start, the Lady Hurricanes stayed engaged defensively, forcing turnovers and creating second-chance opportunities to keep the deficit manageable.
Hurricanes Respond Before the Break
Georgia Southwestern showed signs of life in the second quarter, outscoring Augusta 19-14 to cut into the margin heading into halftime.
Shane' Jackson and
Madison Brittle sparked the surge with strong interior play, while GSW used offensive rebounding to generate extra possessions.
The Hurricanes trimmed the deficit to a bucket late in the half before Augusta closed with a pair of baskets in the final 95 seconds to take a 33-27 advantage into the locker room.
Jaguars Pull Away in the Third
Any momentum Georgia Southwestern gained before halftime was quickly answered coming out of the break. Augusta delivered its most efficient stretch of the night in the third quarter, shooting 81.8 percent from the floor and extending the lead to double figures.
The Jaguars knocked down three triples in the period and pushed the advantage to as many as 16, holding GSW to 13 points in the frame as the Hurricanes continued to search for a perimeter answer.
Late Effort Comes Up Short
GSW continued to battle in the fourth quarter, leaning on interior scoring and defensive pressure to generate stops. However, Augusta maintained control throughout the final 10 minutes, answering each Hurricanes push and extending the lead to a game-high 18 points before sealing the road win.
Jackson Leads GSW
Jackson led Georgia Southwestern with 18 points, behind 8-of-12 shooting, and seven rebounds, posting one of her most efficient outings of the season. Brittle added 12 points, while
Ray'ven Robinson chipped in eight points and provided energy on both ends.
The Lady Hurricanes held advantages in points in the paint (38-32) and second-chance points (18-12), but the difference came from the perimeter and the free-throw line, as Augusta finished with six three-pointers to GSW's zero.
What It Means
Augusta led for 38:34 of the 40 minutes, capitalizing on shooting efficiency and timely runs. Georgia Southwestern will look to regroup as conference play continues on Wednesday night at Clayton State University.
