PEMBROKE – Peach Belt Conference East Division-leading Augusta scored 20 points off of 19 turnovers and held off a furious second half rally by the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team en route to a 56-52 victory over the Braves on Wednesday evening at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

The setback marked the third-straight loss for UNCP (8-10, 3-8 PBC) who has now dropped five of the last six series matchups with its league rival. It was the fifth win in the last seven outings for the Jaguars (15-5, 8-3) who finished off a regular season sweep of the Braves with the triumph.

Junior Jonissa Monley scored a game-best 18 points and notched her sixth-straight (seventh career) double-double with a dozen boards as well. Avery Locklear chipped in 17 points for the hosts as well, while Jasmine Huntley added 12.

Kariel Hutt led the Jaguars with 14 points on 6-of-7 field goal shooting, while Breonna O'Conner and Joshlyn Belcher registered 12 points apiece.

Belcher's 3-pointer with 6:55 to play in the third quarter helped the visitors stake claim to a commanding 43-25 advantage, but the Braves outscored their guests 13-3 over the next 4-1/2 minutes to whittle their deficit down to single digits. Down by 10 heading into the final stanza, the Black & Gold opened the fourth quarter with seven-straight points to make it a one-possession game, 49-46, with 7:28 left to play, but Augusta kept the hosts at bay for the remainder of the game.

Augusta shot 52 percent from the field in the opening half and had pushed their lead out to double digits by the six-minute mark in the second quarter. The Jaguars would eventually take a 35-21 cushion into the locker rooms.

The Braves will hit the road again on Saturday when they make the long trek to St. Augustine, Fla., for a key inter-divisional matchup against Flagler (9-9, 5-6). Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.