PRESSURED PACERS FALL AT FRANCIS MARION 89-66
23rd-RANKED USC AIKEN SUFFERS FIFTH-STRAIGHT LOSS IN FLORENCE
FLORENCE, S.C.-- Francis Marion (10-1, 3-1 PBC) forced 43 turnovers and used balanced scoring with six players in double figures to upset 23rd-ranked USC Aiken (8-3, 2-3 PBC) 89-66 on Wednesday evening at the Smith University Center. In suffering their second-straight loss, the Lady Pacers have dropped five-straight in Florence, last winning in 2003. (PHOTO BY: Ginny Southworth)
The Patriots, winners of seven consecutive games, snap their streak of 14-straight losses at the hands of nationally-ranked opponents. The 23-point loss is also the worst regular season setback for USC Aiken since a 73-49 defeat at Columbus State on January 25, 2003.
USC Aiken avoided a slow start that has plagued the team at times this year, leading 10-7 on two free throws by Avonte Williams with 15:04 left in the first half. But three lay-ups and a Brittany Young three-pointer fueled a 9-0 run as FMU pulled in front 16-10 at the 13:23 mark.
Williams scored a career-high 27 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 12-of-14 at the stripe to go with 10 rebounds and three assists.
The Lady Pacers trimmed the deficit to 16-13, but another Francis Marion run extended the bulge to 24-15 with 8:52 left in the half.
Williams countered with just her fourth three-pointer of the year as USCA tallied 11 of the game’s next 14 points capped off by Nakia Pinkney’s tip-in with 4:47 remaining to draw within 27-26.
Francis Marion, however, used its pressure play to force seven Lady Pacer turnovers over the final 3:03 as the Patriots ballooned a one-point game into a 45-34 spread at the break.
After 26 first-half miscues, the Lady Pacers finished with 43, the most of the Mike Brandt era. Francis Marion finished with a 43-24 edge in points off turnovers.
USC Aiken began the second half strong and on a fast-break lay-up from Morgan Johnson with 13:13 remaining made it a one possession game 51-49. At that point, the Patriots used a 21-8 run to push back out to a 72-57 lead on a Jennifer Dyer trey with 7:00 on the clock to salt the game away.
In addition to the turnovers problems, USC Aiken was unable to get its outside game on track, attempting a season-low five three-pointers, converting two.
Johnson recorded her fourth double double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds to go with six assists and five steals. Starnes added 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. As a team, USC Aiken was 22-of-47 from the floor for 46.8 percent, but despite outshooting Francis Marion, the Patriots enjoyed 16 more shot attempts.
Kevina Ransom came off the bench for Francis Marion for 17 points, six assists, and five steals. Dyer added 15 points, 10 coming in the second half, while Shannon Singleton-Bates chipped in 13.
USC Aiken closes out its season-long, four-game road trip at 2-2. The Lady Pacers return home to host Georgia Southwestern on Saturday, January 12 at 5:30 PM at the Convocation Center.
Newspaper Box Score
#23 USC Aiken vs Francis Marion
01/09/08 5:30 PM at Florence, S.C. (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION 89, #23 USC AIKEN 66
#23 USC AIKEN (8-3, 2-3 PBC)
Williams, Avonte 7-11 12-14 27; Johnson, Morgan 4-8 4-4 12; Starnes, Megan 4-7 1-1 10; Legg, Meredith 3-9 2-2 8; Thomas, Jordon 2-5 1-4 5; Leppanen, Satu 1-2 0-0 2; Pinkney, Nakia 1-2 0-1 2; Harris, Triahna 0-2 0-2 0; Broadwater, LaToshia 0-1 0-1 0; Norman, Marissa 0-0 0-0 0; Meyer, Sarah 0-0 0-0 0; Crapps, Cameron 0-0 0-0 0; Disney, Megan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-47 20-29 66.
FRANCIS MARION (10-1, 3-1 PBC)
Ransom, Kevina 4-12 8-8 17; Dyer, Jennifer 6-13 0-1 15; Singleton-Bates, Shannon 5-6 3-3 13; Allen, Ebony 4-6 4-4 12; Singletary, Creshenda 3-9 6-9 12; Young, Brittany 3-7 4-4 11; Dixon, Yasmean 2-2 2-3 6; Grayson, Rita 1-3 1-2 3; Morgan, Shaquana 0-3 0-0 0; Ruff, Evelyn 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-63 28-34 89.
USC Aiken..................... 34 32 - 66
Francis Marion.............. 45 44 - 89
3-point goals--USC Aiken 2-5 (Williams, Avonte 1-1; Starnes, Megan 1-1; Legg, Meredith 0-2; Thomas, Jordon 0-1), Francis Marion 5-12 (Dyer, Jennifer 3-7; Ransom, Kevina 1-2; Young, Brittany 1-1; Singleton-Bates, Shannon 0-1; Singletary, Creshenda 0-1). Fouled out--USC Aiken-Thomas, Jordon, Francis Marion--none. Rebounds--USC Aiken 40 (Johnson, Morgan 11), Francis Marion 29 (Singletary, Creshenda 9). Assists--USC Aiken 15 (Johnson, Morgan 6), Francis Marion 23 (Ransom, Kevina 6). Total fouls--USC Aiken 28, Francis Marion 23. Technical fouls--USC Aiken-Johnson, Morgan, Francis Marion-Dyer, Jennifer. A-1035