#21 USCA NOTCHES FIRST OVERTIME ROAD WIN IN 24 YEARS
LADY PACERS CLIP FALCONS 73-65
MONTEVALLO, Ala.-- Freshman guard Nakia Pinkney knocked down a three-pointer with three seconds to play in regulation, tying the game at 55-55 and forcing overtime. In the extra period, the 21st-ranked USC Aiken Lady Pacers (7-1) made the most of their new life, going 12-of-12 from the free throw line for the 73-65 non-conference victory over the University of Montevallo (3-7). (PHOTO BY: Scott Webster)
Off to its best start since a 12-1 beginning in 2001-02, the Lady Pacers get their first overtime win since downing Mars Hill 77-71 on December 5, 2003. It is just their second extra frame victory in their last 18 OT contests, but the first road overtime win since February 24, 1983 at Columbia College.
Jordon Thomas drilled a three-pointer at the 11:47 mark of the opening stanza to start a 12-6 run as USC Aiken built a 24-19 spread with 8:27 on the clock. Thomas scored nine points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds.
The Lady Pacers inched the spread out to 31-25 with 4:17 remaining on one of Meredith Legg’s three first-half triples, but the Falcons’ Jennifer Hendricks scored the final five points of the half as the two teams went to the locker room tied 32-32. Hendricks entered the game as the team’s leading scorer at 12.6 ppg, but only scored in that 38-second span.
Montevallo opened the second half on a 10-4 run capped off by a Nicole Lowery jumper with 13:32 to play as the Falcons grabbed their largest lead of the game 42-36. After Shan Jones again made it a six-point game, Pinkney connected on a three-pointer with 8:31 remaining as USC Aiken scored the next seven points to stake a 50-49 lead.
Lowery went 3-of-4 at the line in a span of one second to break a 52-52 tie and give Montevallo a three-point lead with 37 ticks left. USC Aiken turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, forcing the Lady Pacers to commit a foul and send Jamie Graham to the free throw line with 28 seconds remaining.
Graham missed both charity tosses, Thomas grabbed the rebound, and with three seconds left, Pinkney hit the clutch three-pointer.
In the extra period, Graham’s lay-up made it 57-55, but USC Aiken went on a methodical 16-3 run to post a 71-60 advantage with 37 seconds left. Despite a rough shooting night, just 24-of-72 for 33.3 percent, the Lady Pacers closed out the win at the line going 12-of-12 in the overtime frame.
Legg went 0-of-9 from long range after half, but was 10-of-10 at the stripe, tying her career-high of 23 set eight days ago against Converse. She also added seven assists, including one on the Pinkney three at the end of regulation, and pulled down six rebounds.
Morgan Johnson finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds while Megan Starnes chipped in 13 points. Pinkney poured in all 10 of her points after half time.
As a team, USC Aiken dominated the glass 55-45, but lost the turnover battle 22-20.
Lowery scored 14 off the bench to lead Montevallo while Kristen Seigenthaler added 11 and Graham posted a double double with 10 points and 14 boards to go with five steals.
USC Aiken will break for the holidays before returning to action on January 2 at #23 Shaw University at 5:00 PM.
Newspaper Box Score
#21 USC Aiken vs Montevallo
12/15/07 1:00 PM at Montevallo, Ala. (McChesney Center)
#21 USC AIKEN 73, MONTEVALLO 65
#21 USC AIKEN (7-1)
Legg, Meredith 5-19 10-10 23; Starnes, Megan 6-17 0-0 13; Johnson, Morgan 4-7 4-5 12; Pinkney, Nakia 3-6 2-2 10; Thomas, Jordon 3-7 2-2 9; Williams, Avonte 2-6 0-2 4; Leppanen, Satu 1-4 0-0 2; Disney, Megan 0-0 0-0 0; Crapps, Cameron 0-3 0-0 0; Meyer, Sarah 0-0 0-0 0; Norman, Marissa 0-1 0-0 0; Harris, Triahna 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-72 18-21 73.
MONTEVALLO (3-7)
Lowery, Nicole 5-7 3-4 14; Seigenthaler,Kristen 4-12 0-1 11; Jones, Shan 2-6 6-6 10; Graham, Jamie 3-11 4-8 10; Vollmeier, Alex 2-7 0-1 5; Hendricks, Jennifer 2-9 0-2 5; Vanderhyden, Katie 1-5 2-2 4; Johnson, Tiffany 2-4 0-2 4; Christopher, Kandace 1-4 0-0 2; Shelton, Christina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-65 15-26 65.
USC Aiken.................... 32 23 18 - 73
Montevallo.................... 32 23 10 - 65
3-point goals--USC Aiken 7-35 (Legg, Meredith 3-17; Pinkney, Nakia 2-4; Starnes, Megan 1-4; Thomas, Jordon 1-2; Crapps, Cameron 0-3; Norman, Marissa 0-1; Harris, Triahna 0-2; Williams, Avonte 0-2), Montevallo 6-18 (Seigenthaler,Kristen 3-7; Lowery, Nicole 1-1; Hendricks, Jennifer 1-5; Vollmeier, Alex 1-2; Christopher, Kandace 0-2; Graham, Jamie 0-1). Fouled out--USC Aiken-Williams, Avonte, Montevallo-Lowery, Nicole. Rebounds--USC Aiken 55 (Johnson, Morgan 17), Montevallo 45 (Graham, Jamie 14). Assists--USC Aiken 18 (Legg, Meredith 7), Montevallo 12 (Hendricks, Jennifer 3; Vollmeier, Alex 3). Total fouls--USC Aiken 23, Montevallo 22. Technical fouls--USC Aiken-None, Montevallo-Lowery, Nicole. A-75.