AUGUSTA, Ga. --
USC Aiken defeated Augusta State 72-68 in a Peach Belt Conference
matchup Monday night in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
With the win, the No. 18 Lady Pacers improved to 10-3 overall and
2-1 in conference play. The loss dropped ASU to 3-7 overall and 1-2
in the league. The loss was the first for the Lady Jags at home,
who were 3-0 in Augusta prior to the setback.
Junior guard Jasmine Godwin led the Lady Jags with a career-high 26
points and eight rebounds. Junior Nicole Mealing tallied 13 points
and eight rebounds, while junior Porsha White added 12 points and
eight rebounds. Sophomore Kenisha Sheppard netted 10 points.
For the Lady Pacers, senior guard Meredith Legg led with 19 points,
while junior Kendra Chandler had 17 points and nine rebounds off
the bench. Also aiding in the win was senior Megan Starnes, who
added 11 points, and senior Morgan Johnson, who tallied 10 points
and eight rebounds.
Augusta State jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a 3-pointer from junior
Eboni Davis. The Lady Jags led most of the first half and were up
by six at the 7:21 mark. USC Aiken battled back using a 16-2 spurt
to go ahead by 10. ASU added five to pull them within 38-33 at the
half.
The Lady Pacers led for most of the second half and owned a
12-point lead over Augusta State at the 8:27 mark. The Lady Jags
rallied back with a 13-3 spurt to move ahead 66-65 with 1:49 left
in the game. USC Aiken then regained the lead with a layup from
Chandler at the 1:05 mark.
Augusta State shot 78.3 percent from the free throw line and forced
15 turnovers, but only shot 38.8 percent from the field and 25.0
percent from the 3-point line.
USC Aiken shot 45.1 percent from the field and connected on
21-of-27 attempts from the free throw line.
The Lady Jags were without the services of two players. Junior
starting guard Brittany Jarrard served the second game of her
two-game suspension for a violation of team rules, while junior
reserve guard Brittany Hudson served the first of a two-game
suspension for a violation of team rules.
ASU hosts UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in
Christenberry Fieldhouse.
