AUGUSTA, Ga. - Georgia Southern women's basketball crashed the boards to upend Augusta University, 76-63, on Saturday afternoon for the Eagles' first win of the 2020-21 season.
Georgia Southern evened its record to 1-1 on the year with the win. Augusta, an NCAA Division II institution, played the game as an exhibition contest prior to the Jaguars opening up its regular season on Tuesday.
The Eagles outrebounded the Jaguars by a 51-33 margin, including a 21-10 edge on the offensive glass. Georgia Southern collected 50+ rebounds in a contest for the fifth time in its last 18 contests dating back to last season.
Georgia Southern sprinted out to a 23-11 lead in the first quarter and held a double digit lead into halftime. Augusta was able to cut the lead back to single digits, 55-46, on a pair of free throws by Zairya West, but Georgia Southern finished the third quarter on a 9-2 run to open up a 16-point lead and cruise to the win.
Sophomore Shondell Vickers notched her first double-double as an Eagle, collecting 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead Georgia Southern in the contest. Eden Johnson added 10 points as well for GS. Ashleigh Boulin's 18 points led all scorers for Augusta, with November Morton chipping in 17 points.
Eagle of the Game
Vickers hit 5-of-9 shots from the floor, including knocking down her only three-pointer attempted, en route to her team-high 13 points. Her 13 rebounds followed up the 12 rebounds she grabbed on Wednesday at Jacksonville State.
Stat of the Game
Georgia Southern hit 9-of-14 shots from the floor for 64.3% in the 23-point first quarter, while holding Augusta to just 3-of-12 shooting from the floor, or 25%.
Quotables
Sophomore Shondell Vickers on her first week of play for Georgia Southern
"Rebounding has always been one of my strong suits. Georgia Southern wants me to be a threat inside, look to score and crash the offensive and defensive rebounds. We've been playing each other for the longest time. These two games showed us what we need to fix before we come home to face Furman."
Next Up
Georgia Southern opens the 2020-21 home slate by hosting Furman on Thursday, December 3, at 6 p.m. at Hanner Fieldhouse.
