FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-30-05

Women's College Basketball: AASU 75, USC Aiken 70

AIKEN, S.C. – The Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball squad picked up its first Peach Belt Conference win of the season with a 75-70 victory over USC Aiken on Friday evening at the Courthouse in Aiken, S.C.

The Lady Pirates (6-4, 1-2 PBC) extended their current win streak to four with the victory, while handing the Lady Pacers (4-5, 0-2 PBC) their second loss in a row.

AASU opened up the contest on a 20-6 run and kept that double-digit lead into halftime, leading 40-24 behind senior Audosha Kelley's 11 first-half points. The Lady Pacers fought back in the second half, however, using a 9-0 run midway in the second half to bring the lead back to single digits.

USC Aiken cut the lead to five, 67-62, on Jordon Thomas' basket with 3:51 remaining, but Kaneetha Gordon's basket, followed by an immediate steal and layup from Kelley, pushed the cushion back to nine, 69-62, with 2:30 left. A Meredith Legg three-pointer with 12 seconds left brought USC Aiken within four, 74-70, but the Lady Pacers would get no closer.

The early focus of the game was on Kelley's return to the Lady Pirate lineup, but the breakout performance came from freshman Lacey Willis, who hit 8-of-12 shots from the floor en route to a game- and season-high 18 points. Sophomore Kaneetha Gordon finished with 16 points and Kelley ended the night with 16, while USC Aiken was led by Avonte Williams' 15 points and 11 rebounds.

AASU returns to action on Wednesday, January 4, as the Lady Pirates host Francis Marion at 5:30 p.m.

-Pirates-