FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1-15-03

No. 25 Lady Pirates End USC Aiken's 19-Game Home Winning Streak
Win School-Record Ninth In A Row, Down USCA 80-69

AIKEN, S.C. - (January 15) Armstrong Atlantic State got 28 first-half points from junior Tishay Lewis to build a 40-32 halftime lead, then junior Tasha Washington collected all 20 of her points in the second half to lead the No. 25-ranked Lady Pirates to an 80-69 win over USC Aiken, snapping the Lady Pacers' 19-game home winning streak.

The Lady Pirates (13-1, 6-0 PBC) set a new school record by winning their ninth game in a row in downing the Lady Pacers (12-5, 3-3 PBC). Lewis led all scorers with a career-high 34 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-6 three-pointers, and 10-of-11 from the free throw line. The Savannah, Ga., native single-handedly put the Lady Pirates up in the first half by hitting four three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game as AASU took a 16-10 lead. After the eight-point halftime lead, it was Tasha Washington's show as the junior from Phoenix, Ariz., scored eight straight points after the Pacers had cut the lead to six, 52-46, with 9:49 remaining in the game. The Lady Pirates then iced the game from the free throw line, hitting 10-of-13 tosses in the final two minutes.

AASU scored 80 points for the sixth consecutive game, also a school record, and remained in first place in the Peach Belt Conference with the victory. USC Aiken was led by Jami Cornwell's
23 points and Jen Kennedy's 16 points.

The Lady Pirates will be next in action on Saturday, January 18, at 1:00 p.m. at Columbus State.

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