AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern women's basketball team was on pace to upsetting USC Aiken this afternoon in the Storm Dome but unfortunately the Pacers got the last laugh. GSW relinquished the lead with 2:36 left in the game that led USC Aiken to taking home the 69-66 Peach Belt Conference win.
Lex Chatman drained four from deep, leading the team with her first career double-double as she finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
How It Happened: Morgan Towells gave GSW a four-point lead when she hit her sole three of the day with 4:44 remaining in the quarter. Her score was part of a 14-4 run that the Lady Canes erupted with to go into the second quarter up 20-12.
Chatman gave GSW a nine-point lead, 26-17, with 7:49 remaining in the half right before both squads went on a scoring drought for three minutes. Kierra York gave the Lady Canes an 11-point lead when she ended the drought with a successful put back layup. The Pacers responded with an 11-2 run of their own to go into halftime down by one, 33-32.
GSW came out of halftime looking to end their drought as they kept scoring. Towells converted a successful three-point play while Chatman drained one from deep to give the Lady Canes a six point lead three minutes into the second half. After a timeout, a layup by Aiken's Star Toomey gave the Pacers a 47-46 lead with 3:34 left in the quarter. A three-pointer by Jamesha Samuel tied the game at 49. Successful free throws gave GSW a 53-49 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Brianna Perry gave GSW an 11-point lead with 7:20 remaining in the quarter as that forced Aiken to call a timeout. After the timeout, the Pacers broke out with a 13-2 run to retake a 65-64 lead with 2:38 remaining in the quarter. Aiken's Sade Johnson expanded the lead with a layup but Chatman answered to cut the score back down by one point. Free throws by the Pacers gave Aiken the 69-66 final win of the game.
Chatman drained half of GSW three's tonight as the team went 8-for-27 from behind the arc. Both squads had a total of 45 rebounds but Aiken took the advantage, scoring 40 points in the paint compared to GSW's 28.
Who Stood Out: Mariya Trimble was second in scoring with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists while Tyra Smith snatched down 10 rebounds to go with four points and one block.
Melyk Taouil led the Pacers from the bench with 17 points and six rebounds as three other Pacers scored in double-digit figures this afternoon.
Up Next: GSW invites Lander University to town to cap off their three-game home stretch on Monday, February 18 for a 5:30 p.m. start.