Catawba edges AU women in overtime, 80-78
By Danielle Kennedy | Sports editor
The Augusta University women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, losing to Catawba College 80-78 in overtime at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Despite the loss, the Jaguars led for the first three quarters and for the first few minutes of the fourth. Both teams put up an intense fight defensively. Both teams shot 44 percent from the field, but the Indians and Jaguars were drained from the defensive effort and missed a combined 25 free throws.
Offensively, AU was led in scoring by Elyse Autry with 24 points. The point guard also dished out five assists.
“You got to give them (AU) credit, man,” said Catawba coach Terence McCutcheon. “They definitely came out. They played harder than the previous games we saw on tape. And I tell the team all the time, you have to understand that teams are going to beat us. And you can tell from the way Augusta was playing that they were focused on the mission.”
The Jaguars went six minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter and ended regular time in a tie at 69, sending the game to overtime.
“I think it’s a combination of fatigue setting in and then being able to execute down the stretch,” said AU coach Celeste Stewart of the scoring drought in the fourth. “I think there were also times where we were stagnant.”
Some of the drought was due to Catawba playing tough defense.
“We weren’t defending well in that third quarter,” said McCutcheon. “And I was like, ‘Listen, y’all, you know, we have a great opportunity here to kind of take a step towards trying to be a championship team.’ And I mean it this way, championship-level teams have to defend, and you have to rebound.”
The Indians (2-1) were clinging to their lead in overtime, but AU fought until the end—and even had the last shot, but Sa’Niah Dorsey’s 3-point attempt rolled out at the horn.
“We knew coming into this game that this was going to prepare us for conference play,” said coach Stewart. “There’s going to be challenges.”
The Jaguars ended the night with a two-point loss but will use this early setbac as a learning opportunity as they prepare to play in the Peach Belt Conference this season.
“It was a great test for us,” Stewart said. “I think we learned a lot about our team. Our freshmen stepped up big and got a lot of great experience, which I think is going to help us down the road.”
Chloe Ross and Quinasia Abercrombie each scored 14 points to supplement Autrey’s big night for the Jaguars. Catawba was led by center Mary Spry with 23 points, and Brooklin Ingram added 18 for the Indians.
The Jaguars (2-1) will face off against the Livingstone College Blue Bears on Sunday, Nov. 23, at Christenberry Fieldhouse at 5 p.m.
Contact Danielle Kennedy at dakennedy@augusta.edu.
Jaguar forward Quinasia Abercrombie (24) goes up for two of her 14 points in AU’s 80-78 overtime loss to Catawba at Christenberry Fieldhouse. At the top of the page, Jaguar guard Elyse Autrey (21) drives against Catawba center Mary Spry (24). Autrey had 24 points, and Spry 24. (photo by Lydia Wlliams/the Bell Ringer)
