Lady Jaguars Top Benedict 73-68; improve to 4-1 ahead of conference opener

Augusta University's Lady Jaguars topped Benedict 73-68 at home Sunday to improve their record to 4-1 for the season ahead of Friday's Peach Belt Conference opener at North Georgia. Junior JJ Williams led the way with 16 points, including 3 first half threes and an old fashioned three point play with 1:50 remaining that gave Augusta a 72-65 lead only 68 seconds after Benedict had cut the Jaguars' once 21 point advantage to 1.

Augusta's preseason first team All Peach Belt pick Breonna O'Conner also scored 16 points, and Brianna Middleton scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

After a 28-11 Augusta run that spanned parts of the second and third quarters, Benedict slowly chipped away at the deficit behind the play of Shirvel Luke (22 points) and Destiny Betts (15 points), who made a combined 17 of 27 field goals. After Luke scored to cut Augusta's lead to 1 with 2:58 remaining, junior Abrea Harris converted a three point play and Williams followed with another on the next possession to essentially seal Augusta's win.

Augusta's women's and men's teams play Friday at North Georgia and Monday at Columbus State, opening the Peach Belt portion of the schedule. Both teams have won every game but one in pre-conference play.

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