The Augusta University women’s basketball team won the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship on March 9, defeating Georgia College & State University 61-56 at the Lumpkin Center in Columbus, Georgia. This marks Augusta’s first conference tournament title since 1993 and secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional.
The victory is significant for the Jaguars, who have not claimed a PBC Tournament championship in over three decades. With this win, Augusta improved its season record to 21-9 and will enter the NCAA Southeast Regional as the seventh seed. The team is set to face No. 2 seed Lenoir-Rhyne University in Harrogate, Tennessee, with games scheduled from March 13-16 and hosted by top seed Lincoln Memorial.
Quinasia Abercrombie led Augusta with 19 points and was named tournament MVP. Amari Jackson contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, while Elyse Autrey added eight points, five rebounds, and three assists. Sierra Burns scored seven points off the bench; Sa’Niah Dorsey had six points and six steals; Camerah Langston also chipped in six points. Abercrombie, Jackson, and Autrey were all selected for the PBC All-Tournament Team.
Augusta started strong with a 9-0 run in the first quarter and maintained control through much of the game. The Jaguars held a double-digit lead at halftime but faced a comeback attempt from Georgia College in the second half. After Georgia College tied the game late in the fourth quarter, Burns hit a jumper to regain Augusta’s lead before Jackson and Abercrombie sealed the win at the free throw line.
Defensively, Augusta forced 19 turnovers resulting in 24 points and recorded 13 steals during the game. The Jaguars also scored 34 points in the paint while shooting nearly 43 percent from the field. Georgia College was led by Natalia Bolden with 16 points and Caroline Beavin with 15.
Looking ahead, Augusta will prepare for its matchup against Lenoir-Rhyne University as it returns to NCAA postseason play.
