GAFFNEY, S.C. - The Anderson University women's basketball team
hoped the Sweet Sixteen would be even sweeter the second time
around.
But a devastating fourth quarter on Saturday in the 2016
Southeast Region semifinals prevented the Trojans from getting that
far.
Just under a year after earning a spot in the Sweet Sixteen at
Timken Center the Trojans came up short at the same venue, falling
to Augusta, 81-73, in a game that ended with a stunning
turnaround.
The tourney's No. 8 seed used a 14-0 spurt late in the third
quarter and early in the fourth to flip the script on a contest
that - for three quarters - was all Anderson.
But the Jaguars were unstoppable over the final 10 minutes,
outscoring the No. 4 seed 28-12 to continue their unlikely run in
the Division II Dance.
AU finishes the season at 23-7 while Augusta improves to
24-8.
"That was a great college basketball game," Anderson coach Jimmy
Garrity said. "I thought we came out of the gate on fire, but then
in the fourth quarter they went zone and shot the ball very well.
We got great looks but to go on a championship run it takes making
plays and taking care of the ball a little bit better."
Anderson gave up 22 points on 17 turnovers and got just nine
bench points to 31 for Augusta.
After stunning top seed and previously unbeaten Limestone to
open the tourney, Augusta will face No. 7 seed Francis Marion on
Monday in an all-Cinderella regional final.
FMU toppled No. 3 seed Columbus State 67-58 in Saturday's other
semifinal.
Alexis Dillard led the Trojans with 21 points and 13 rebounds,
while Jennifer Monroe added 15 points and Madison Floyd scored
12.
Rounding out AU scorers were Heather Jankowy (8), Nakia Young (8),
Katie Davis (7) and Erika Martin (2).
"I could not be more proud," Garrity said. "The year in total,
we won the regular season championship back to back in the South
Atlantic Conference, and we did it with a lot of high character
people. That's a sad locker room right now because they don't want
to let each other down, but that group of 14 (players) is who I
want on my team."
Breonna O'Conner was brilliant for the winners, going 13 of 18
from the field and finishing with 32 points.
Other double digit Jags were Joshlyn Belcher (18) and Cynara
Pitt (12).
AU took charge early in the first quarter, going on a 10-0 run
that was bookended by a pair of Jankowy threes. Augusta remained
calm and found its shooting touch midway through the frame, but the
Trojans led 27-20 after 10 minutes.
Anderson was able to extend its lead in the second, finishing
the frame with a 45-35 lead.
The Jaguars were able to trim the deficit down to four with
under three minutes left but the Trojans were money from the free
throw line down the stretch, halting Augusta's momentum.
With 20 minutes in the books Dillard already had 12 points.
Dillard and Monroe gave the Jags all kinds of trouble in the
third, swapping inside baskets and helping Garrity's team maintain
a solid edge.
When the horn signaled one to go Anderson was in front,
61-53.
But the Jaguars used the final stanza to make up for all the
frustration they had endured for the first 30 minutes.
SAC Player of the Year Jennifer Monroe, a senior, said her
school once again showed it belonged among the nation's elite.
"Anderson is no longer a team, it's a program," Monroe said. "I had a wonderful experience here and I know there will be players who will step up and lead."
