USCA SPRINGS UPSET AT #7 CLAYTON STATE IN PBC OPENER
AFTER STRONG FIRST-HALF, LADY PACERS SURVIVE SECOND-HALF SURGE
MORROW, Ga.-- Behind a 26-2 first half run, USC Aiken (2-0, 1-0 PBC) built a commanding 25-point cushion at the break and needed all of it to hold off seventh-ranked Clayton State (3-1, 0-1 PBC), pulling off the 67-63 upset win in Peach Belt Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon. It is the program’s sixth win in their last eight league lid-lifters. (PHOTO BY: Ginny Southworth)
USCA has now knocked off the Lakers on their home floor for the second-straight season, also beating #15 Clayton State 68-64 on January 27, 2007. The win over the preseason PBC favorites gives the Lady Pacers their highest ranked victim since stunning top-ranked California (Pa.) 77-68 in Aiken on November 26, 2004.
After an opening lay-up by Morgan Johnson, Roberto Phillips knocked down a three-pointer 25 seconds in to give Clayton State their only lead of the game at 3-2. Johnson scored on a jumper in the paint on the ensuing possession, two of her 14 in the opening half, as USC Aiken would lead 4-3 and never trail again.
Dominique Jennings drew the Lakers within a point at 10-9 with 12:16 on the clock, but what followed was the decisive run of the game. USCA held Clayton State to one field goal over the next 11:53 as they ripped of a 26-2 run to take control 37-12 on one of two free throws by LaToshia Broadwater with 1:04 left in the half.
The Lady Pacers connected on 11-of-15 shots from the field during the run, draining both attempts from long range and scoring 16 of their 26 points in the paint. Megan Starnes fueled the attack with 10 of her 16 points on the night.
Shantel Ragin ended a more than eight-minute field goal drought with a fast-break lay-up with 23 ticks left in the half, as USC Aiken led at the break 39-14.
But just as the first half was executed to near perfection for head coach Mike Brandt’s club, the second half was more one of survival. Maintaining a 43-23 spread with 14:15 to play, Phillips ignited a 22-8 run with five-straight points to slice the deficit to six at 51-45 with 7:13 on the clock.
After committing only six first-half turnovers against the vaunted Laker defense, USCA notched 13 miscues just in the 7:02 of the run.
Freshman Nakia Pinkney connected on 2-of-4 free throw attempts and Jordon Thomas and Starnes converted buckets in the paint as part of an 8-0 spurt to push the lead back into double figures at 59-45 with 4:47 left.
Trailing by 10, Clayton State scored 11 of the game’s next 14 points to draw within a bucket at 63-61 with just 27 seconds to play. Avonte Williams calmly sank two free throws and after Jennings drilled two charity tosses, Meredith Legg knocked down a pair with five seconds left to seal the 67-63 win.
Johnson finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in 35 minutes to lead USC Aiken. The 6-0 junior from Marietta, Ga. has two double doubles in her first two games as a Lady Pacer.
In addition to Starnes’ 16, Thomas added 10 points and six boards off the bench. As a team, USC Aiken shot nearly 49 percent while holding Clayton State to 36.7 percent from the floor. The Lady Pacers lost the turnover battle 28-16 but won the battle of the boards 41-30.
Williams turned in another complete game with six points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Phillips finished with a game-high 18 points for Clayton State while Marie St. Fort added 12 on 3-of-4 three-point shooting in the second half. Shanrika Hardeman, the transfer from Columbus State, chipped in 10 points and five rebounds.
USC Aiken returns home for a non-conference Sunday showdown with Coker College tomorrow at 5:00 PM at the Convocation Center.
Newspaper Box Score
USC Aiken vs Clayton State
11/24/07 2:00 PM at Morrow, Ga. (Athletics & Fitness Center)
USC AIKEN 67, CLAYTON STATE 63
USC AIKEN (2-0, 1-0 PBC)
Johnson, Morgan 6-11 5-6 17; Starnes, Megan 6-7 3-5 16; Thomas, Jordon 5-8 0-0 10; Legg, Meredith 2-10 4-4 9; Williams, Avonte 2-5 2-2 6; Pinkney, Nakia 1-1 3-6 5; Leppanen, Satu 1-4 1-2 3; Broadwater, LaToshia 0-0 1-2 1; Harris, Triahna 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-47 19-27 67.
CLAYTON STATE (3-1, 0-1 PBC)
Phillips, Roberta 6-11 2-2 18; St. Fort, Marie 4-8 1-2 12; Hardeman, Shanrika 4-9 2-4 10; Jennings, Dominique 2-6 4-4 8; Ragin, Shantel 3-11 1-2 7; Jackson, Lisa 2-5 1-7 5; Jackson, Lynette 1-8 1-2 3; Larry, Kimberly 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-60 12-23 63.
USC Aiken..................... 39 28 - 67
Clayton State................ 14 49 - 63
3-point goals--USC Aiken 2-12 (Legg, Meredith 1-8; Starnes, Megan 1-1; Williams, Avonte 0-2; Harris, Triahna 0-1), Clayton State 7-18 (Phillips, Roberta 4-7; St. Fort, Marie 3-5; Jennings, Dominique 0-3; Ragin, Shantel 0-2; Hardeman, Shanrika 0-1). Fouled out--USC Aiken-Leppanen, Satu, Clayton State-Phillips, Roberta. Rebounds--USC Aiken 41 (Johnson, Morgan 11), Clayton State 30 (Jackson, Lynette 5; Hardeman, Shanrika 5; Ragin, Shantel 5). Assists--USC Aiken 18 (Williams, Avonte 5), Clayton State 12 (Ragin, Shantel 6). Total fouls--USC Aiken 20, Clayton State 22. Technical fouls--USC Aiken-None, Clayton State-Team. A-285