Box Score

AIKEN, S.C. - The USC Aiken women's basketball team fell just short of a Peach Belt Conference victory once again in a narrow 58-56 loss to Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State on Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

The Pacers were down by as many as 14 points at 38-24 with 12:56 left in the contest, but the Pacers were able to rally down the stretch to almost claim the victory. The Pacers started things off by going on an  8-2 run over the next three minutes to cut the Columbus State advantage back down to single digits at 40-32.

The two teams would stay around the eight-to-10 point margin for almost the next four minutes with the game 48-38 in CSU's favor with 6:01 left on the game clock. The Pacers would then proceed to go on a 9-3 run to cut the Cougar advantage to just four points at 51-47 with 3:55 left in the game. The Pacers would eventually get the CSU lead down to just three points after a Brittany Bowen (Elicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) lay-up with 1:04 left in the game.

Bowen and the Pacers continued their second half momentum as Bowen nailed a three-pointer with 32 seconds remaining to tie the contest at 55-55.

Columbus State would respond with star forward Phebe Smith hitting a tough lay-up in the paint with 13 seconds left to give the Cougars a lead they would never relinquish. USC Aiken's Triahna Harris (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) hit one of two free throws with four seconds left to cut the CSU lead to one at 57-56. Smith would then hit one of two from the charity stripe as well to set the score at 58-56 with four seconds on the clock.

The Pacers had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Hannah DeGraffinreed's three-pointer (Raleigh, N.C./Merrimack College) just missed, giving the Cougars the tough 58-56 victory.

The loss dropped the Pacers to 6-8 overall on the 2009-10 season. USC Aiken is now 1-4 in Peach Belt Conference action. Columbus State improved to 8-4 overall with the victory. The Cougars are presently 2-0 in the PBC.

USC Aiken shot 32.1 percent (17 for 53) from the field in the loss to Columbus State. The Cougars were 50 percent as a team from the field in the game, knocking down 20 of their 40 field goal attempts.

USC Aiken's Catherine Cain (Dayton, Ohio/Ohio University) was the top scorer in the contest. Cain was 5 for 10 from the field in the loss. She was 5 of 7 from the charity stripe.

Bowen was the final Pacer scorer in double figures with 10 points.

USC Aiken's Deandra Schirmer (Holton, Kan./Cloud County CC) did not score in double figures, but she brought down 11 caroms.

Three Cougars ended Sunday's game in double figures with Turelle Jones leading the way with 12 points. Despite being in foul trouble most of the day, Smith ended the victory over the Pacers with 11 points. Renee Jackson added 10 for the Cougars.

USC Aiken will next play PBC East Division rival Francis Marion at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the Convocation Center. The game is the second game of a men's and women's basketball twinbill at the Convocation Center with the Pacer men slated to take on the Patriot men immediately following the women's game at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The USC Aiken-Francis Marion doubleheader will be Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day at the Convocation Center. During the men's game as always there will be the Burger King Breakfast Shot for a Car where one fan will have the opportunity to take a shot for a free car!

For those unable to make it to the games as always the USC Aiken Sports Information Department has you covered. Live stats and a live webcast will be available for Pacer fans who are unable to attend the game. The live stats and webcast can be accessed for free by clicking on the live stats link and the video link at www.pacersports.com.