ANDERSON, S.C. – After dropping two straight home contests, the Anderson University women's basketball team (7-6) put together a solid outing to defeat nonconference opponent Augusta (8-3), 71-58, to finish out its four-game homestand and the final game of 2022 in the win column on Monday evening at the Abney Athletic Center.
"I am really proud of our team's effort tonight," said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "It's always nice to leave for break after a win. Diamond really stepped up and controlled the boards for us tonight and Jalyn and Britney were extremely efficient with their shots."
"We've grown a lot this first half of the season and I'm really proud of all the work that they have put in," explained Barbaree. "Now it's time to enjoy family and reset for the second half of the season."
The Trojans set the tone from the tip with aggressive defense and hot shooting. Anderson went 9-of-16 from the field in the opening frame, outscoring the Jaguars, 21-13.
Despite cooling off in the second quarter, Anderson maintained its lead going into halftime with a seven-point advantage. Seniors Jalyn Spurlin and Britney Bailey led AU in scoring in the first half with eight points apiece. Sophomore Diamond McDowell ripped down 10 of her season-high 18 rebounds in her 12 minutes of action of the first half of play.
McDowell's solid play continued in the third quarter with the native of Asheboro, N.C., scoring 10 of the team's 21 points and pulling down seven more rebounds. Senior Brittney Stafford chipped in five points to help extend the Trojans lead to 17, 58-41.
The Black and Gold enjoyed their largest lead of the contest, 63-41, after a made three-point basket by freshman Ashlyn Sheridan and a short jumper by senior Xan Rowland.
Augusta picked up the intensity in the fourth period of action, forcing six Trojan turnovers and slowly crept back into the game. The Jaguars pulled to within seven points with 1:41 remaining. Forced to foul, AU made 6-of-10 down the stretch with excellent defense mixed in to push the final margin of victory to 13, 71-58.
Spurlin and Stafford shared team-high scoring honors with 14 points apiece. McDowell dropped in 12 points and collected 18 rebounds, just one shy of her career high. McDowell also was credited with two assists, two steals and a career high five blocked shots.
Augusta had three players reach double-digit scoring with Kiera Howard and Tomiyah Alford sharing team-high honors with 14 apiece with Autumn Phillips netting 11 points.
Anderson will enjoy some time off for Christmas and will return to action on January 1st. The Trojans will travel to Mercer University for an exhibition game, before returning to South Atlantic Conference action on January 7th at Coker.
