FROM STAFF REPORTS

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of Montevallo women’s basketball team dropped its first Peach Belt Conference road contest this season Dec. 17 in a 72-53 loss to undefeated Augusta State University at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Falcons, who dropped to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in Peach Belt Conference play.

Sophomore Taylor Beverly led Montevallo with 23 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the floor. Beverly also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

Freshman Jacquelyn Thompson, who finished 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, added 14 points off the bench. Junior Shay Bonner contributed five points and eight rebounds, while senior Zena Nasiloski chipped in four points and six boards.

Junior Alexsis Brown finished with three points, while seniors Alex Strickland and Carolyn Taite added two points each. Senior Trena Moore-Smith dished out a team-high five assists.

The Falcons jumped out to an early eight-point lead, 13-5, following a jumper by Beverly with 12:32 remaining in the first half. Augusta State responded with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes, tying the game at 13-13 on a 3-pointer by Brittany White with 9:31 left in the opening half.

Beverly helped Montevallo push its lead back to four points, 19-15, on a jumper with 7:40 left in the half, but the Jaguars closed the half with a 14-6 run to carry a 29-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Augusta State opened the second half with an 8-2 run to take its first double-digit lead in the game, 37-27, less than three minutes into the half.

Thompson knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 37-30, but the Jaguars quickly pushed the lead back to double digits and held a comfortable lead down the stretch.

Montevallo returns to action Jan. 3 when the Falcons host Flagler College in a Peach Belt Conference contest at BankTrust Arena. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.