Box Score NEWBERRY, S.C.--Despite a furious second half rally, USC Aiken (2-2) could not overcome 23 turnovers, a nine rebound deficit, and 14 missed free throws in falling at Newberry (1-0) 66-64 in women's non-conference basketball action on Tuesday night at Eleazer Arena. The Lady Indians snapped a five-game losing streak to the Lady Pacers by picking up their first win over USCA since November 17, 1998. 

Nola Grant led all players with 21 points on 10-of-19 shooting to go with nine rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes of action. Kasey Mills scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half on 3-of-11 from the field and 9-of-10 at the stripe. Lana Mandic also posted double figures with 12 points and six boards in 23 minutes. 

Taquala Cooks' offensive putback with 9:01 remaining in the game extended the Lady Indians' lead back to double digits at 60-49, equaling their largest of the second half. Cooks finished with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench. Newberry's bench outscored USCA's reserves 35-9. 

Over the final 9:01, however, the Lady Pacer defense held Newberry without a field goal. At the stripe over the same span, the Lady Indians connected on just 6-of-17 attempts (35.3 percent) leaving the door of opportunity open. 

With the lead whittled to three at 63-60, Beata Szabo was whistled for a foul on three-point shooter Monica Alexander. The freshman stepped to the line and drained all three shots to make it a 66-60 advantage with 2:03 to play. Szabo converted a lay-up off an Alexander turnover and Mandic's bucket in the paint with 46.7 seconds remaining trimmed the margin to 66-64. 

On the ensuing possession, USCA point guard Mindy Allee picked Laura Banda's pocket but Grant could not convert on the transition lay-up. Following a Szabo steal, Grant missed a jumper in the paint with 11 seconds to play in another attempt to force overtime. 

Tonique Frasier had two free throws with 2.9 on the clock to ice the game, but missed both of them. Grant's outlet pass found Allee who was fouled with 0.2 remaining. Following a Newberry timeout, Allee missed the first free throw and then intentionally missed the second as time expired. 

Banda poured in 15 of her team-high 20 points in the first half on 5-of-10 from the field including 3-of-7 from deep. Frasier scored just five points put pulled down a game-best 10 boards as Newberry dominated the glass 45-36. 

Tied 17-17 with 8:30 left until halftime, Newberry went on a 13-1 run over the next 3:20 to bolt ahead 30-18 on back-to-back triples by Cooks and Jonelle Yaklich. The Lady Indians drained six of their first 10 three-point attempts in building a first half bulge. 

For the game, USC Aiken shot 42.3 percent from the field (22-of-52) but were just 2-of-8 from downtown and an uncharacteristic 18-of-32 at the charity stripe (56.3 percent). Newberry was 19-of-51 from the floor (37.3 percent) but 7-of-23 from deep for 30.4 percent. The Lady Indians were equally abysmal at the stripe connecting on only 21-of-45 attempts for 46.7 percent including 12-of-31 in the second half. 

USC Aiken will host the ConocoPhillips Tip-Off Classic starting Friday, November 19. Augusta State will play Virginia State at 5:30 PM followed by the Lady Pacers' home opener against Tampa at 7:30 PM. 

SCORING:
USC Aiken (64): Nola Grant 21, Kasey Mills 16, Lana Mandic 12, Benazura Serbecic 6, Jordon Thomas 4, Beata Szabo 3, Katie Gebhardt 2

Newberry (66): Laura Banda 20, Taquala Cooks 14, Monica Alexander 5, Tonique Frasier 5, Tonya Deese 4, Jonelle Yaklich 3, Carnicha Bellinger 3, Claire Hogan 3, Ashley Marine 3, Chance Stewart 2, Karisa Dinges 2, Elizabeth Green 2.