Lady Pirates Pick Up 61-51 Win Over Augusta State

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Armstrong Atlantic State used an 11-0 run midway through the second half to pick up a 61-51 Peach Belt Conference women's basketball victory over visiting Augusta State on Wednesday evening at Alumni Arena.

The Lady Pirates (6-6, 3-1 PBC) swept the season series from the Lady Jaguars (1-14, 0-6 PBC), while keeping Augusta State winless in the Peach Belt this season.

AASU led by just one, 28-27, at halftime and again by just one, 34-33, with 13:38 left to go in the second half, but a three-pointer by sophomore Brooke Long sparked the 11-0 run that put the Pirates up by 12, 45-33, with 10:40 remaining. Freshman Jazmin Walker had three baskets in the run, contributing to her season-high 14 points in the contest.

The Lady Jaguars cut the lead to three, 49-46, on a layup by Waneta Carlisle with 3:56 left, but another Long three-pointer pushed the lead back out to six and Augusta State never got closer the rest of the way.

Long finished the game with a team-high 18 points for the Pirates, joining Walker in double figures. Lauren Hall contributed a career-high 10 rebounds as well defensively.

Augusta State was led by Carlisle's game-high 19 points off the bench.

The Lady Pirates return to action on Saturday, January 16, facing GCSU at 1:30 p.m. at Alumni Arena.

Head Coach Matt Schmidt's Post Game Comments:

On what he saw different from tonight's game than the earlier season matchup in December: "We were healthy and played inspired in the first game. When a team is struggling like Augusta State is, kids play to the competition's record."

On how important the 11-0 second-half run was: "Anytime you have an 11-0 run and get some breathing room, it's helpful because we were lacking confidence and felt the pressure."

On playing Marissa Rimbert, out since mid-December with an injury, so quickly in the first half after Arpine Amirkhanyan collected two fouls: "I had no reservations putting her in. Marissa was huge. She allowed us to play through foul trouble. I thought her play was really big tonight. Her playing 22 minutes was key in our foul situation