Pacers Move Up Two to 11th in Latest National Poll

LILBURN, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women’s basketball team moved up two spots to 11^th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

The Pacers were ranked 17^th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll. In the first regular season poll of 2011-12 on Nov. 22, USC Aiken checked in at No. 23. The Pacers were ranked 21^st on Nov. 29. USC Aiken was ranked 18^th in the Dec. 6 poll. In the last poll of the 2011 portion of the 2011-12 regular season on Dec. 13, USC Aiken was ranked 16^th.

The first poll of 2012 saw the Pacers ranked 14^th. USC Aiken was ranked 13^th last week.

USC Aiken (13-1, 6-0 PBC) is one of two Peach Belt Conference teams ranked currently with Clayton State the highest ranked PBC squad at No. 2.

The Pacers claimed their school record 12^th straight win in a 62-33 home win over rival Augusta State on Monday evening at the Convocation Center. 

USC Aiken's 12^th consecutive win snapped the previous school record of 11 straight wins set by the 2001-02 Pacers (Nov. 20, 2001-Jan. 16, 2002). 

USC Aiken has been in the top-25 for at least one week in four of the last five seasons.

The Pacers were ranked as high as eighth nationally and finished the year ranked a program-best 13th in the final poll of the 2010-11 season. The Pacers would close the year by being ranked in the final 12 polls of the 2011-12 season.

USC Aiken has now been ranked in 20 straight USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

USC Aiken will next travel to Pembroke, N.C. for a Peach Belt Conference game with UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Tip-off in the Peach Belt Conference East Division game is set for 5:30 p.m.

The Pacers will then return home to host their third annual "Black Out Night" as part of the men's and women's basketball doubleheader against North Georgia on Saturday, Jan. 21.

The special evening will be held in honor of USC Aiken’s all-time leading women’s basketball scorer and Hall of Fame Inductee, Meredith Legg.

Just weeks after finishing her illustrious Pacer career, Legg was diagnosed with a rare form of Ocular Melanoma. Although the tumor in her left eye has been treated, she’s been undergoing treatment for liver metastasis every month for nearly three years. Her last scans showed signs of stability, but her battle is still far from over. She will get a break until after the Hall of Fame Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 17, but will then head back to Philadelphia for more tests.

To help raise funds and awareness for Melanoma Research, the USC Aiken athletic department is asking everyone to wear black to the doubleheader. Black is the official color of Melanoma.

All proceeds on the evening will go towards Melanoma Research and to help Meredith with her medical bills, t-shirts, bracelets, stickers, and raffle tickets will be sold.

In support of Melanoma Awareness Night, the Aiken Mid-Day Lions Club is also requesting that you bring your used eyeglasses (including readers) in support of the Lions Recycle for Sight program. A collection box will be available in the lobby of the Convocation Center on game night. The Lions also collect old cell phones and hearing aids. 

The evening gets underway at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 with the USC Aiken women tangling with Peach Belt Conference rival North Georgia. The Pacer men will hit the hardwood against the North Georgia men immediately following the women's game at approximately 7:30 p.m. Please wear black and show your support.

The special “Black Out Night” also features many other promotions. It is Upward Night at the Convocation Center.

During the doubleheader, which is being sponsored by Fairfield Inn & Suites, there will also be a special veterans recognition. The USC Aiken spirit groups will also be introduced to the crowd over the course of the evening. 

The USC Aiken athletic department will also honor website sponsor Carolina Musculoskeletal Institute throughout the evening.