FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-5-03

Men's College Basketball: Augusta State 59, AASU 55
Women's College Basketball: AASU 86, Augusta State 53

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball team opened the second half on a 17-4 run to blow open a close game and defeat Augusta State, 86-53, in a Peach Belt Conference game on Wednesday evening at Alumni Arena. Augusta State came back to earn a split in the doubleheader by holding off the AASU men, 59-55.

The Lady Pirates (17-3, 10-2 PBC) took a five-point lead into halftime, 35-30, but junior Tishay Lewis scored the first 10 points for AASU in the second half as they rushed out to take a 54-34 lead with 15:35 remaining and cruise to the 33-point victory. Augusta State (13-6, 8-4 PBC) shot just 32 percent for the contest and committed 26 turnovers in the game.

Lewis continued her explosive trend by recording her third consecutive double-double with 30 points and a season-high 17 rebounds on the evening to lead all players. The reigning Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week, Lewis hit 11-of-16 shots from the floor and canned both of her three-pointers and added five steals on the evening. Junior Tasha Washington hit for 17 points, while Augusta State was led by Ernesia Wideman's 12 points and 10 points apiece from Sabrina Jones and Shundra Johnson. With the win, AASU extends its home winning streak to 11 games, one shy of the school record of 12.

In the men's contest, Augusta State (12-8, 8-4 PBC) opened the game by scoring the first 10 points and took an eight-point lead into halftime, 28-20. The Pirates (7-12, 6-6 PBC) rallied back, cutting the Jaguar deficit to two, 35-33, with 14:16 left in the game.

The Jaguars seemingly had the game in control when David Siebrands scored a dunk with 1:04 left to put Augusta State up by eight, but a three-point play by junior Daryl Williams, followed by a three-pointer by Justin Wood with 11 seconds left gave the Pirates one last chance, down by only two, 57-55. Jermale Wilkerson made two free throws to seal the victory, however, with 10 seconds remaining as the Pirates could not score as time ran out.

Bain led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-10 three-point shooting, while junior Dave Pisarcik recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Siebrands led the Jaguars with 16 points, while Chris Harriman chipped in 12 points. AASU, after shooting just 23 percent from the floor in the first half, hit for 62 percent in the second half, including 7-of-12 three-pointers, to climb back into the ball game.

The AASU men's and women's teams are next in action on Saturday, February 5 as they host Kennesaw State University at Alumni Arena. Game times are 2:00 p.m. for the women and 4:00 p.m. for the men.

- Pirates -