February 7, 2009

Box Score

DAHLONEGA, GA – North Georgia College & State University held in strong the first half, but 23rd-ranked USC Aiken pulled away in the second half to claim a 73-63 victory over the Lady Saints Saturday afternoon in Memorial Hall.

The slide continues for North Georgia as they lose their 6th straight and fall to 5-16 overall and 2-12 in the PBC, while USCA improves to 17-7 on the year and 9-5 in the league.

The Lady Pacers led 12-5 early in the contest when North Georgia came to life and went a 10-0 run to claim their first lead of the game at 15-12. USCA’s Morgan Johnson then knocked down one of two free throws before the Lady Saints went on another run that saw them pull away and claim their largest lead of the game at 22-13 with 7:14 remaining in the half.

After North Georgia led 31-27 lead at intermission, USC Aiken tied the game a pair of times early in the second period before taking the lead for good with 13:12 remaining on a layup from Kendra Chandler to make it 39-37. The Lady Saints would come as close as two points on three different occasions before the Lady Pacers extended the lead came away with the 10-point victory.

Whitney Randolph paced four North Georgia players in double figures with 17 points, while Syretha Marble, Alyssa Stokes, and Meredith Montgomery all scored 13 for the Lady Saints.

Five players scored in double figures for USCA, inclduing Meredith Legg who led all scorers with 18 points and four steal.

North Georgia won the battle on the boards 31-26, while the Lady Pacers forced the Lady Saints into 28 turnovers while committing 16.

The Lady Saints return to action on Wednesday evening as they travel to take on in-state rival Columbus State University at 5:30 p.m. in the Lumpkin Center.