Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--Sophomore Avonte Williams grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds to go with 12 points for her first double double as USC Aiken (2-2) posted a 70-59 non-conference win over Newberry (0-3) in women's basketball action on Tuesday night at "The Courthouse". The Lady Pacers used a 15-7 run over the final 6:59 of the first half to create separation and turned up the defense in the final stanza to beat the Indians for the sixth time in the last seven meetings (AVONTE WILLIAMS PICTURED). 

Williams did most of her damage at the free throw line connecting on 6-of-8 attempts. As a team, USC Aiken converted 21-of-30 chances for 70.0 percent while Newberry was 17-of-31 for 54.8 percent in a game that witnessed 57 total fouls. 

Just over four minutes in, Newberry built an 11-7 advantage on Monica Alexander's jumper in the paint. After Allison Jackson's bucket with 15:32 on the clock, Newberry held USCA without a point for over five minutes in building a 16-11 lead. Freshman Megan Starnes, however, snapped the drought with five-straight points to tie the game at 16-16 with 9:57 left until half. Starnes scored 10 of her 11 points in the first half on 4-of-6 from the field. 

Ashlee Wright seesawed Newberry back in front 25-24 with 6:59 remaining, but a pair of free throws by Williams ignited the 15-8 run to close the half as USCA went to the locker room up 39-33. 

The Lady Indians opened the second half with five-straight to pull within one at 39-38 with 17:36 on the clock. But Satu Leppanen's lay-up and Meredith Legg's three-pointer quickly pushed the bulge back to six, 44-38, just over a minute later as USC Aiken never trailed in the second half. 

Williams bucket in the paint with 5:18 remaining made it 60-52, but it would represent the Lady Pacers last field goal of the game. USCA pulled away to the 70-59 win by converting at the free throw line on 10-of-14 attempts for 71.4 percent. 

Legg finished with 10 points on 2-for-5 from deep and was the third Lady Pacer in double figures. Junior point guard Mindy Allee dished out five assists to just one turnover to go with nine points on 5-of-6 at the stripe. Leppanen added nine points while freshman Keirstin Jones chipped in eight off the bench in 16 minutes. 

Wright led the Lady Indians with 13 points on 4-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 at the stripe. Tonique Frasier added 10 points and nine offensive rebounds, but was just 2-of-12 at the line. 

USC Aiken's defense held Newberry to 22.9 percent shooting in the second half and forced 23 turnovers. Newberry finished even on the boards with USCA but dominated the offensive glass 23-14. 

USC Aiken will travel to Salisbury, N.C. this weekend to compete in the Catawba Classic. The Lady Pacers will face off against the host Catawba Indians on Friday at 8:00 PM and then take on Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at 2:00 PM. Newberry will play at USC Upstate on Saturday, November 26 at 2:00 PM. 

Newspaper Box Score
11/22/05 7:30 PM at Aiken, S.C. (The Courthouse)

USC AIKEN 70, NEWBERRY 59

NEWBERRY (0-3)
Wright, Ashlee 4-9 5-7 13; Frasier, Tonique 4-13 2-12 10; Alexander, Monica 2-6 5-5 9; Stewart, Chance 2-6 3-4 9; Hope, Tygress 2-4 2-2 6; Deese, Tonya 2-5 0-0 4; Lemoine, Marie-Eve 2-4 0-1 4; Snowden, Cortney 1-4 0-0 2; Green, Elizabeth 1-1 0-0 2; Bulcher, Anita 0-2 0-0 0; Marquardt, Laura 0-10 0-0 0. Totals 20-64 17-31 59.

USC AIKEN (2-2)
Williams, Avonte 3-8 6-8 12; Starnes, Megan 4-7 2-3 11; Legg, Meredith 3-8 2-2 10; Leppanen, Satu 3-7 3-4 9; Allee, Mindy 2-2 5-6 9; Jones, Keirstin 3-5 2-3 8; Thomas, Jordon 2-3 1-1 5; Chandler, Kendra 2-7 0-2 4; Jackson, Allison 1-4 0-0 2; Broadwater, LaToshia 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 23-52 21-30 70.

Newberry....................... 33 26 - 59
USC Aiken...................... 39 31 - 70

3-point goals-Newberry 2-9 (Stewart, Chance 2-3; Marquardt, Laura 0-5; Wright, Ashlee 0-1), USC Aiken 3-8 (Legg, Meredith 2-5; Starnes, Megan 1-1; Thomas, Jordon 0-1; Williams, Avonte 0-1). Fouled out--Newberry-Alexander, Monica, USC Aiken-None. Rebounds-Newberry 42 (Deese, Tonya 9; Frasier, Tonique 9), USC Aiken 42 (Williams, Avonte 13). Assists-Newberry 8 (Alexander, Monica 3; Wright, Ashlee 3), USC Aiken 17 (Allee, Mindy 5). Total fouls-Newberry 31, USC Aiken 26. A-369.