FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-21-06

Women's College Basketball: North Georgia 93, AASU 85

Release Courtesty of North Georgia Sports Information

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Strong shooting and tough defense helped lead North Georgia College & State University over Armstrong Atlantic State University 93-85 Saturday afternoon as NGCSU celebrated Homecoming.

A packed house cheered the Lady Saints on as they remained a perfect 9-0 in the Peach Belt Conference and improved to 13-3 overall. AASU fell to 8-7 overall and 3-5 in the Peach Belt Conference in the first meeting between the two teams since 1992.

The Lady Pirates jumped out to an early 13-8 lead in the opening minutes of the game. Senior guard Audosha Kelley sliced through the Lady Saints defense for the first 10 minutes of the game. North Georgia answered the attack with a 23-5 run over the next seven minutes to go up 31-18 with 8:58 left in the half. AASU was able to fight back and cut the lead to single digits off of a three from junior guard Jennifer Anderson with 7:53 remaining. In the closing minute of the half, freshman guard Lindsay Taylor was able to knock down a three for the Lady Saints to give North Georgia a 45-36 advantage heading into the intermission.

The second half saw the Lady Saints march out to a double-digit lead again in the first five minutes. Senior post Jeanine Dorminey knocked down a three to put North Georgia up 54-43 with 15:48 left in the game. The Lady Pirates began to chip away at the lead for the next three minutes until they cut the lead to three after a pair of free throws from Kelley. AASU continued to stay close until a three from senior post Lara Seamon put the Lady Saints up 71-61 with 6:58 left in the game.

In the closing minute of the game, North Georgia had an 89-78 lead, but the Lady Pirates continued to press and attack the basket. A lay-up from Kelley in the closing seconds brought AASU within six, but Kitchens knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to seal the victory.

The Lady Saints shot 49 percent (28-for-57) from the field and 47 percent (9-for-19) from behind the arc. North Georgia was led by Seamon who scored 20 points and chipped in five rebounds. Current PBC Player of the Week, freshman Syretha Marble, added her third double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Kitchens tied a career high 17 points in her fourth start of the season and added four steals. Sophomore guard Megan Huffman rounded out the top scorers for the Lady Saints with 15 points.

Kelley, who scored a game high 23 points and added four seals, led the Lady Pirates. Senior guard Alicia Durham added 15 points and seven rebounds followed by sophomore forward Kaneetha Gordon who scored a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jasmine Herron scored 11 points for AASU, shooting 39 percent (29-for-74) for the game and 43 percent (9-for-21) from three-point land.

The next test for the Lady Saints is Monday as North Georgia travels to Florence, S.C. to take on Francis Marion University at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Pirates will look to snap their two-game slide as they face Augusta State University Monday at home in Savannah.

-Pirates-