FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-3-07

Women's College Basketball: USC Aiken 78, AASU 58

Release Courtesy of USC Aiken Sports Information

AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken (14-7, 6-4 PBC) knocked down a season-high 13-of-22 three-point attempts, just one shy of the school record, in rolling past the Lady Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic State (10-11, 4-6 PBC) 78-58 in women’s Peach Belt Conference basketball on Saturday evening. In front of a homecoming crowd of over 1,100, the Lady Pacers notched the 250th win in the 30-year history of “The Courthouse”, currently in its final season.

One game after posting the program’s biggest conference win in five years, USCA continued its strong play, snapping a two-game skid to AASU by winning their third-straight game. The Lady Pacers improve to 6-1 in homecoming games since 2000 with their largest margin of victory in those games coming tonight.

Tied 5-5 with 15:48 on the clock, USC Aiken ripped off a 14-2 run capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Meredith Legg with 11:19 remaining to seize control 19-7. Legg entered the game ranked second in the league in three-point field goal percentage. She tied a career-best with 6-of-11 from beyond the arc for a game-high 20 points to go with four rebounds in 21 minutes. At home this season, Legg is 25-of-46 from deep for 54.3 percent.

Mindy Allee’s trey stretched the lead to 27-14 with 9:01 left, but after opening 11-of-20 from the field, the Lady Pacers went cold, finishing the half 4-of-17 for 23.5 percent. Armstrong Atlantic State, who shot 35.9 percent for the game, could only trim the deficit by two, trailing 37-26 at the break.

Allee finished with 10 points and three assists on 3-of-4 from downtown.

USC Aiken regained their shooting form to begin the final stanza as they stretched their lead to 53-33 with 14:16 to play. Legg poured in eight points during the 16-7 run while Avonte Williams capped it off with a trey. She finished with seven points and five boards.

As a team, USC Aiken was sizzling from three-point land in the second half going a perfect 7-of-7. Armstrong Atlantic State managed only 4-of-21 for 19.0 percent.

Leading by 20, the Lady Pacers maintained their lead throughout the final 15 minutes, registering the 78-58 win.

Making her fourth-straight start, Megan Starnes added 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, and just one turnover. USCA rang up 23 assists to nine turnovers. Kendra Chandler chipped in eight points, five rebounds, and four assists off the bench while Jordon Thomas had six points, six rebounds, and four helpers.

Kaneetha Gordon her 15th double double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Lacey Willis and Sarah Brown added 11 and 10 points respectively.

USC Aiken, just an overtime buzzer-beater away from being 5-0 versus the South Division, takes over sole possession of second place in the North Division, trailing UNC Pembroke by one-half game.

The Lady Pacers will hit the road on Wednesday, February 7 seeking their first four-game PBC winning streak since 2001-02. USCA will play at North Georgia at 5:30 PM. AASU returns home to Savannah, Ga. to host conference newcomer Georgia Southwestern, also on Wednesday at 5:30 PM.

- Pirates -