Pacers Battle But Come Up Short Against Undefeated Eagles
AIKEN, S.C. - The University of South Carolina Aiken women's
basketball team dropped a non-conference matchup, 78-64, against
No. 22 Carson-Newman (10-0) on Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Convocation
Center.
The Pacers (5-5, 0-1 PBC) head into a two-week holiday
break at .500 before opening up the Peach Belt Conference portion
of their schedule on Jan. 4 at home against Georgia Southwestern.
Mike Brandt's squad battled with the undefeated Lady
Eagles all afternoon, taking the lead 11-10 at the 13:49 mark in
the first half on a bucket from Mia Antione (Stone Mountain, Ga. /
Dominion Christian).
Carson-Newman answered 22 seconds later with a basket from Candice
Clear to take a 12-11 lead. The Lady Eagles would lead the rest of
the way en route to the 13-point victory.
USC Aiken made the South Atlantic Conference power fight
for all forty minutes of the contest, drawing back to within one at
the 10:47 mark of the first half on a layup from Hannah
DeGraffinreed (Raleigh, N.C. / Merrimack College).
The Lady Eagles pulled away over the final ten minutes of
the first half on 17-of-37 shooting, including five three-pointers,
to lead 41-29 at intermission.
The Pacers responded coming out of the locker room and cut
the deficit to just seven points as Lindsay Sundberg (Mansfield,
Conn. / E.O. Smith HS) nailed a three-pointer to put the score,
52-45, with 12:08 left to play in regulation.
Carson-Newman would answer again however, as Clear matched
Sundberg's three-pointer with a basket from beyond the arc of her
own to put the Lady Eagles up 55-47.
Clear, who entered the contest averaging 5.4 points
per-game, finished with 19 points, including six three-pointers.
Carson-Newman was led in scoring by Ashley Kyle's 21 points.
Several Pacers got valuable minutes for head coach Mike
Brandt against a Top 25 opponent, as 10 players were on the floor
for no less than 10 minutes.
DeGraffinreed led Pacers with 17 points and seven rebounds to go
with a steal.
USC Aiken pulled within 10 points of Carson-Newman on
several occasions during the final 12 minutes but could not reduce
the margin to single digits.
The USC Aiken women's basketball team will next return to
the hardwood on Monday, Jan. 4 for a Peach Belt Conference game
against Georgia Southwestern at the Convocation Center. Tip-off is
scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The game will be the first game of a men's
and women's basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center with
the Pacer men scheduled to take on the Georgia Southwestern men
immediately following the women's game at approximately 7:30 p.m.
The PBC doubleheader against Georgia Southwestern includes many special promotions as it will be Aiken Kiwanis Peanut Club Night and Security Federal Bank Night. It is also Junior Pacer Recognition Night. The night will be filled with tons of special events, including an appearance by Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes courtesy of Security Federal Bank. Bugs Bunny and his pals will be giving away free Domino's pizza to some lucky Pacer fans, while Security Federal Bank will give away six $50 savings bonds. During the men's game as always there will be the Burger King Breakfast Shot for a Car where one fan will have the opportunity to take a shot for a free car!
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