Vodrazkova shoots Jags to 'ugly' upset

Eva Vodrazkova doesn't feel she has to shoulder the scoring burden for Augusta State to be successful.

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She did anyway Wednesday night.

Vorazkova poured in a season-high 19 points and the Lady Jaguars knocked off defending Peach Belt Conference champion Lander, 58-49, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

"If I score two, three points, that's fine," Vodrazkova said. "I like to play defense."

Behind a tough man defense, Augusta State snapped Lander's six-game winning streak. The Lady Bearcats managed just four first-half field goals and shot 32 percent from the field.

After losing four of its past five, the Lady Jaguars (8-6) pulled even with Lander in conference play at 2-1.

"This is huge," Augusta State coach Greg Wilson said. "We're not blessed this year. We're not athletic. But we have a lot of heart. We lay it on the line."

Augusta State has failed to eclipse the 60-point mark since a 77-57 win over Paine in early December. And Wilson said that trend might continue.

"It looks like we're going back to playing like we did three years ago: winning ugly," he said.

That's what happened against Lander. The Lady Jaguars committed 35 turnovers and had only one player score in double digits. The saving grace: a 49 percent field-goal shooting effort and a 16-for-18 performance from the foul line.

Augusta State held Lander to two field goals the first 14 minutes as it built a double-digit cushion. Brandi Hollingsworth drilled two free throws to give the Lady Jaguars a 17-6 lead.

The Lady Bearcats reduced a 12-point halftime deficit to eight before Augusta State regained its composure. The Lady Jaguars broke off an 11-3 run to build its biggest lead of the second half at 16. A Taliah Roberts layup pushed the margin to 45-29 with six minutes remaining.

"We realized conference is starting," Vodrazkova said. "Today we played more as a team."

LANDER (7-6, 2-1)-Janet Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Jacquay White 5-11 2-3 12, Natasha Hemphill 4-10 2-4 11, Keunna Thomas, 3-7 1-2 8, Lashaundra Dubose 1-6 0-0 3, Chinessia Lee 2-4 1-2 5, Ashley Johnson 0-1 1-2 1, Jennifer Hukill 0-3 0-0 0, Linlei Ward 0-1 0-0 0, Tracy Jacobs 2-6 3-7 7, Shelby Sikes 0-2 0-0 0, Tara Nyikavaranda 1-3 0-0 2, Amy Caver 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 18-56 10-20 49.

AUGUSTA STATE (8-6, 2-1)-Eva Vodrazkova 6-7 4-4 19, Latoya Renwrick 1-3 0-0 2, Shirrell Ford 4-6 0-0 8, Brandi Hollingsworth 1-6 4-4 7, Andrea McCurry 1-2 1-1 3, Taliah Roberts 2-5 0-0 4, Kasie Muchler 0-3 7-8 7, Jamica Wyattt 3-5 0-1 6, Christina Pedarre 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 19-39 16-18 58.

Halftime: Augusta State 27-15 3-point goals: Lander 3-12 (Hemphill 1-3, Thomas 1-3, Dubose 1-3, Johnson 0-1, Caver 0-1, Ward 0-1), Augusta State 4-7 (Vodrazkova 3-3, Hollingsworth 1-3, Muchler 0-1). Rebounds: Lander 29 (Hemphill 5), Augusta State 36 (Ford 10). Assists: Lander 8 (Thomas 3), Augusta State 12 (Muchler 4). Turnovers: Lander 19, Augusta State 35. Fouls: Lander 17, Augusta State 15. Fouled out: none. A-215.