Brandt Releases 2010-11 USC Aiken Women’s Basketball Schedule

2010-11 USC Aiken Women's Basketball Schedule

AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken head women’s basketball coach Mike Brandt released the 2010-11 Pacer women’s basketball schedule on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010.

“I think once again just like almost every other coach in the country that we have one of the toughest schedules in the nation,” said Brandt. “I truly believe it this year though since we are starting off the year with so many road games against some of the top competition in not only the region, but the entire nation. Our toughness will be tested very early on in the upcoming season.”

The Pacers will first hit the hardwood in 2010-11 for an exhibition game against former Peach Belt Conference brethren and current NCAA Division I Kennesaw State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3 in Kennesaw, Ga. It will mark the first meeting between the two programs since 2005.

USC Aiken will open the regular season by participating in the inaugural South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Conference Challenge at Horne Arena in Greenwood, S.C. on Saturday, Nov. 13 and Sunday, Nov. 14. The Pacers will play two of the top teams in the South Atlantic Conference in the challenge with the Pacers opening the event by playing Carson-Newman at 5 p.m. on Nov. 13. One day later, USC Aiken will face off against Tusculum at 2 p.m. on Nov. 14.

USC Aiken will stay on the road next for a road non-conference game against first-year head coach Maurice Smith and the Georgia College & State Bobcats. The Pacers and Bobcats are Peach Belt Conference counterparts, but for the second straight year they will play a single game that will count as a non-conference encounter. The two played last year’s non-conference game at the Convocation Center, but this year the two will tangle on GCSU’s Milledgeville, Ga. campus at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17.

The Pacers will then close out the week and begin the next by playing two contests in three days, beginning with an away game in Gaffney, S.C. against Limestone. The Pacers have won 13 straight against the Saints, but the two have not squared off on the hardwood since 2005. The 2010-11 Pacers will face off against Limestone at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20.

USC Aiken will then open the next week by playing College of Charleston for the third straight year. The Pacers and Cougars will take the court in Charleston, S.C. against one another at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 22.

After facing off against NCAA Division I College of Charleston, USC Aiken will migrate south for the Thanksgiving holiday to play in the West Florida Thanksgiving Classic on Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 27. USC Aiken will begin its time in the event by squaring off against NCAA Division II Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference member Goldey-Beacon at 2 p.m. on Nov. 26. The game will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs.

The Pacers will close out the West Florida Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27 with a 2 p.m. contest against Henderson State. The Pacers will be facing off against the Arkadelphia, Ark. Institution for the first time since 2004.

The Pacers will then close out the first month of the regular season by playing host to their first home game of the year at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29 against another South Atlantic Conference power in Lenoir-Rhyne. The Pacers and the Bears will be playing for the second straight year at the Convocation Center. Last year, USC Aiken downed L-R, 63-51, at home on Dec. 17, 2009.

USC Aiken will commence the month of December with three consecutive Peach Belt Conference games. The Pacers will open PBC play with two important PBC East battles against Francis Marion and Flagler. The Pacers will first tangle with in-state rival Francis Marion, who are helmed by first-year head coach Kate Glusko. The Pacers and Patriots will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at the Convocation Center. USC Aiken will then close out the week with a road game against Flagler at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4 in St. Augustine, Fla.

A week off from the hardwood next will allow the Pacers to prepare for an away date against PBC West rival Columbus State at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11.

The Pacers will close out the final calendar month of 2010 with two non-conference games. The Pacers will first play host to Shaw at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The Pacers will be trying to obtain their third straight win over the Bears in the contest. Two days later, USC Aiken will travel to North Carolina for a road game against Lenoir-Rhyne at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16.

USC Aiken will commence the 2011 calendar year by traveling to Americus, Ga. for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off against Georgia Southwestern. Two days later, USC Aiken will return home for a 5:30 p.m. contest against PBC East rival UNC Pembroke. The Pacers will then close out the week with a 5:30 p.m. game against PBC East foe Armstrong Atlantic State.

After traveling to Florence, S.C. to face off against Francis Marion for the second and final time in 2010-11 at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, USC Aiken returns home for two home games against PBC West opposition. USC Aiken’s two-game homestand begins with a contest against PBC power Clayton State at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15. Two days later, the Pacers will welcome North Georgia to the Convocation Center for a 5:30 p.m. contest on Monday, Jan. 17.

USC Aiken will close out the week by traveling just up the road a little bit to Greenwood, S.C. for a contest against Lander at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22. The game against Lander will be the Pacers’ final game before two consecutive games against rival Augusta State.

The Pacers and Jaguars will first play at Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta, Ga. at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24. Just over a week later, the Pacers and the Jaguars will renew their rivalry at the Convocation Center with a 5:30 p.m. tilt on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

On Monday, Feb. 7, the Pacers will welcome Flagler to the Convocation Center for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. The contest is the Pacers’ annual Pink Zone game and it is also the first game of a grueling three-game week that will feature the Pacers next traveling to Montevallo, Ala. to take on Montevallo on Thursday, Feb. 10 for a 5:30 p.m. game. Just two short days later, USC Aiken will welcome Georgia College & State for a Peach Belt Conference game to the Convocation Center. The game is scheduled to get underway at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12.

The Pacers will close out the 2010-11 regular season with two of its final three games on the road, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. PBC East contest against UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 16. The Pacers will then close out the week in Savannah, Ga. with a 5:30 p.m. contest against Armstrong Atlantic State on Saturday, Feb. 19.

USC Aiken’s final regular season game of the 2010-11 campaign will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 25 with the Pacers welcoming Lander to the Convocation Center for a 5:30 p.m. game. The Pacers’ final regular season game of the year will serve as USC Aiken’s senior day.  

USC Aiken concluded the 2009-10 season with a 15-13 record. The Pacers closed out the 2009-10 season by winning nine of their last 12 games. 

The Pacers were ranked 22nd in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 2009-10 Top 25 Team Honor Roll. The Pacers finished the 2009-10 season with a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.442. USC Aiken was the only Peach Belt Conference institution on the prestigious list in 2009-10.

The Pacers’ 2009-10 team GPA is the highest GPA among all PBC institutions in the history of the WBCA Top 25 Honor Roll.