AIKEN, S.C.--The USC Aiken Lady Pacers have announced their 2004-05 women’s basketball schedule featuring 14 home contests including two home tournaments, a return trip to the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic, and 10 games against teams that participated in last year’s NCAA Tournament for a combined record of 204-57, or a .782 winning percentage.

As one of eight teams selected to participate in the Eighth Annual Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic on November 5-7 in Orlando, Fla., the Lady Pacers will be making their second appearance in the last three seasons. In what is considered the most prestigious Division II event aside from the NCAA Elite Eight, the Tip-Off Classic will be held at the Disney Wide World of Sports Milk House Arena (5,000). In 2002-03, USC Aiken went 2-1 and claimed the consolation bracket championship.

Hosting a pair of November Classics, the Lady Pacers will once again bring quality basketball to “The Courthouse”. In the Conoco Phillips Tip-Off Classic, USCA will take on the University of Tampa and Virginia State on November 19-20. The Aiken County Merchants Classic over Thanksgiving weekend (November 26-27) features Saint Paul’s College, California (PA), Augusta State, and USC Aiken.

California (PA) posted a 35-1 record in 2003-04 en route to winning the NCAA Division II National Championship. Throw in a season opening match-up with Henderson State (24-13), a national semifinalist last year, and a pair of games against Elite Eight participant Augusta State (24-8), and third-year head coach Mike Brandt will face the nation’s best from 2003-04.

Four more non-conference contests will take place in December highlighted by a December 4 contest at Division I Furman University. Last year the Purple Paladins (18-11) finished second in the Southern Conference with a 14-6 mark.

Following a January 2 date at Presbyterian, the Lady Pacers will shift into tough Peach Belt Conference play starting January 5 with a home game against rival USC Upstate (formerly USC Spartanburg). USCA will try and rebound from a 6-10 mark in PBC play in 2003-04.

February 5 will feature a matchup with Armstrong Atlantic State, another NCAA Tournament participant from last season. This will cap off a week of homecoming festivities for USC Aiken. Following a February 9 showdown with archrival Augusta State at Christenberry Fieldhouse, the Lady Jags will come to “The Courthouse” on February 23 for “Senior Night” and the Lady Pacers’ final regular season home game.

The 2005 Peach Belt Conference Tournament will again be held at Christenberry Fieldhouse and hosted by Augusta State. Play begins on Tuesday, March 1 and continues through Sunday, March 6.

For the upcoming 2004-05 season, Brandt, 33-27 in two seasons at USCA, welcomes back nine of 13 letterwinners including three starters.

For more information, please contact the USC Aiken ticket office at 803-641-3486.

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