Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The nationally 11th-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team rebounded from its first loss in almost two months earlier this week by besting Peach Belt Conference foe North Georgia, 68-42, on Saturday evening at the Convocation Center.
USC Aiken (14-2, 7-1 PBC) has now won 13 of its last 14 games. The Pacers are a perfect 8-0 at the Convocation Center in the 2011-12 regular season.
The Pacers finished the 26-point win over North Georgia (9-7, 3-4 PBC) on Saturday shooting 47.5 percent (29-for-61) as a team. The Pacers shot over 51.5 percent (17-for-33) as a team in the first stanza.
The stingy Pacer defense held North Georgia to just 28.3 percent (15-for-53) shooting as a team on the night.
The Pacers forced North Georgia into 19 turnovers in the game, scoring 20 points off the 19 Saint turnovers. The Pacer defense finished with seven blocks as a team in their win.
USC Aiken held a sizeable 34-14 point advantage in the paint.
Two Pacers concluded their evening in double figures with Hannah DeGraffinreed (Raleigh, N.C./Merrimack College) leading the way with 14 points. She was 7-for-9 from the field in the game. She also had a team-high tying four assists to go along with one steal.
Freshman Mackenzie Reese (Madison, Wis./Edgewood) was the only other Pacer in double figures with 12. Reese also had two rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist.
Jessica Trice led two North Georgia players in double figures with 13 points.
The game was never in doubt for the Pacers on Saturday as they led from start-to-finish. USC Aiken led by 20 points at 38-18 at the halftime break.
USC Aiken commenced the second half on a 13-0 run to own a commanding 51-18 lead with 14:49 remaining in the game. Just over four minutes later the Pacers had extended their lead to 37 at 58-21.
The Pacers have little time to rest on their laurels after Saturday's win. USC Aiken will next welcome Georgia Southwestern to the Convocation Center at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23.
