MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn Montgomery overcame an 11-point four-quarter deficit on Thursday evening, getting as close as three with under two minutes remaining, but could not complete the comeback in a 53-46 season-finale loss.
 
NOTES
• AUM ends the season with a 9-19 mark, posting a 5-15 record in their first year with a full Gulf South Conference schedule.
• West Georgia State improves to 16-11, 12-8 in GSC play.
• As a team, AUM set the program's NCAA-Era records in rebounds (993), assists (318), steals (237), blocks (101), rebounds per game (35.5), assists per game (11.4), steals per game (8.5) and blocks per game (3.6).
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Junior guard/forward Evelina Avleeva pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds to go with six points and three steals. She ends her first season at AUM as the NCAA-Era single-season leader in rebounds (190), steals (68), rebounds per game (6.8) and steals per game (2.4).
• Freshman guard Makaylla Bullard scored a team-high 15 points with four assists.
• Redshirt-sophomore center Bailee Wolfe recorded seven rebounds, six points, four assists and two steals. She holds the NCAA Era record for most blocks in a season (31) and blocks per game (1.3).
• For West Georgia, De'Ashia Jones recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Senior guard Kyla Rooks and Wolfe both scored in the opening quarter for AUM, who trailed West Georgia 11-4 going into the second frame.
• Following a made layup for the visitors, Bullard connected on back-to-back triples to make it a three-point contest at 13-10. AUM got as close at two off a three-pointer from freshman guard Alex Brown following a UWG basket to make it 13-15, with the two sides exchanging jumpers to keep it a one-possession game before a 7-0 run for the visitors gave them a 24-15 edge. AUM ended the half with a triple from Brown, making it 24-18 at the intermission.
• West Georgia created a double-digit lead with a 6-2 spurt to start the second half, scoring back-to-back triples with an AUM jumper in-between to make it 30-20. The Wolves added to the separation, creating a game-high lead at 15 at 37-22. After exchanging the ensuing eight points, the Warhawks ended the frame with a free throw from sophomore forward Regan Croff and triple from Bullard to make it 41-30 going into the final quarter.
• AUM added to the quarter-ending run with back-to-back baskets from Avleeva to start the fourth, only for an equal retort by the visitors recreating the 11-point separation at 45-34. The Warhawks responded with an 11-1 run, making it a one-possession affair at 46-43, but could not get any closer as four-straight points for the Wolves made it 50-43. AUM got three more points, coming from a triple by Bullard, while UWG added three points from the free throws to create the final score.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• The Warhawks converted on 16-69 shots, going 7-34 from three-point territory and 7-10 from the free throw line.
• UWG went 18-51 from the field, 3-15 from beyond the arc and 14-30 from the free-throw line.
• Both sides recorded 47 rebounds, with AUM holding a 20-13 advantage in offensive boards.
• AUM got 30 points off the bench versus two for the Wolves.
• AUM committed 11 turnovers, resulting in 12 West Georgia points. The Wolves committed 13 turnovers, leading to eight points.
• AUM recorded five steals with six blocks while the Wolves stole the ball 10 times with three blocks.
 
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