Related: Women's Basketball Runs Past Belmont Abbey, 72-51
AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Augusta Jaguars connected on 48.2 percent shooting from the field throughout the 40 minutes of Peach Belt Conference action to capture the 72-61 victory over the visiting UNC Pembroke women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon inside the Christenberry Fieldhouse.
Despite shooting 41.7 percent during the contest and three players totaling double-digit scoring, the Braves (5-6, 0-4 PBC) suffered the loss to open the New Year, while Augusta (10-2, 3-0) remained perfect in conference action with the victory.
Newcomer LaShonda Prichard carried a team-best 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, while both Eboné Stevens and Avery Locklear tallied 12 points each. Guard Jasmine Huntley added nine points and senior Mary Robinson pulled down a team-best six rebounds. Stevens and Locklear combined for six of UNCP's seven 3-pointers as Stevens had four and Locklear registered a pair.
The Braves were out-rebounded by the Jaguars, 35-33, but tallied 20 points in the paint compared to 18 by Augusta. UNCP also utilized 42 points from bench players and logged 14 second-chance points off 10 offensive rebounds.
The Jaguars took the early lead in the first quarter with the 21-11 advantage, but UNCP chipped away at the lead in the second period to trail by eight points heading into the half. The Black and Gold continued with a strong pace in the third quarter and out-scored Augusta, 21-19, to cut the Jaguars' lead to six points, however, Augusta kept the Braves wanting in the final 10 minutes and solidified the win by holding off the Braves' offensive attack.
Joslyn Belcher posted a game-high 22 points with six of Augusta's treys and 8-for-14 shooting from the field, while Kariel Hutt and Breonna O'Conner chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively. Lonna Turner collected seven rebounds as Hutt notched four blocks.
The Braves will close out their five-game road streak with a mid-week contest against PBC East Division foe USC Aiken (5-7, 0-3) on Wednesday in the opening half of the 5:30 p.m. twinbill inside the Convocation Center in Aiken, S.C.
