Lady Jags prevail in overtime

AIKEN -- Brandi Hollingsworth's final game as an Augusta State Lady Jaguar won't come soon enough for the USC Aiken women's basketball team.

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Not after Hollingsworth's two free throws with 15 seconds left iced the Lady Jaguars' 67-64 overtime win Wednesday at The Court¤house.

"I will be glad to see her graduate," Lady Pacers coach Mike Brandt said.

It was the third time in the past two years that Hollingsworth's last-minute antics helped seal wins against USC Aiken (18-11, 8-7 Peach Belt Conference). The first two were long-range 3-pointers ñ including a 35-foot buzzer-beater Feb. 9 to give the Lady Jaguars a 50-49 win on their home court. Her latest dagger wasn't nearly as thrilling, but it got the job done, spoiling Senior Night for the Lady Pacers.

It's the kind of situation Hollingsworth loves.

"At the end of the game, I always want the ball," said Hollingsworth, who finished with a team-high 14 points and six assists.

So, when teammate Andrea McCurry stole the ball in the Lady Pacers' paint, Hollingsworth immediately called for the ball. McCurry obliged and Hollingsworth caught it and held on, forcing Mindy Allee to foul her with Augusta State holding onto a

65-64 lead. Hollingsworth stepped to the line and swished both free throws to pad the lead that Latoya Renwrick had given Augusta State 31 seconds earlier.

Renwrick also helped push the game to overtime when she hit a pair of free throws with 34 seconds left in the second period. Augusta State (14-12, 8-7 ) had the ball in their end but a pass to Shirrell Ford wound up in Benazura Serbecic's hands with 7 seconds left.

Renwrick blocked a fadeaway jumper by Kasey Mills as time expired.

"I thought our team just gutted it out," Augusta State coach Greg Wilson said.

The win moved Augusta State into a tie with USC Aiken for second place in the Peach Belt's North Division, with the Lady Jaguars holding the tie-breaker.

Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.

Augusta State (14-12, 8-7)ñLatoya Renwrick 4-10 4-4 12, Shirrell Ford 4-6 3-6 11, Christina Pedarre 1-3 0-0 2, Brandi Hollingsworth 3-14 6-6 14, Andrea McCurry 4-12 3-4 13, Taliah Roberts 2-4 1-2 5, Eva Vodrazkova 3-7 1-2 8, Jamica Wyatt 1-4 0-0 2, Kim DeMersseman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-60 18-24 67.

USC Aiken (18-11, 8-7)ñLana Mandic 1-3 1-2 3, Nola Grant 3-9 3-6 9, Benazura Serbecic 6-11 3-5 15, Kasey Mills 6-16 4-6 19, Mindy Allee 2-7 1-1 5, Beata Szabo 1-1 0-0 3, Katie Gebhardt 2-10 4-4 8, Eboni Speller 1-3 0-0 2, Shannon Sumter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-60 15-23 63.

Halftime: USC Aiken 25-22. 3-point goals: Augusta State 5-23 (Hollingsworth 2-12, McCurry 2-7, Eva Vodrazkova 1-4), USC Aiken 5-19 (Mills 4-6, Szabo 1-1). Rebounds: Augusta State 41 (Ford 9), USC Aiken 44 (Serbecic 13). Assists: Augusta State 17 (Hollingsworth, McCurry 6), USC Aiken 17 (Allee 5). Turnovers: Augusta State 17, USC Aiken 23. Fouls: Augusta State 21, USC Aiken 20. Fouled out: none. Añ1,363.