USC Aiken Tops Tusculum, 69-63, In NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

MORROW, Ga. -- The third-seeded USC Aiken women's basketball team held of a pesky sixth-seeded Tusculum College, 69-63, Friday afternoon in the first quarterfinal game of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament hosted by Clayton State University.

USC Aiken (27-5), the No. 8-ranekd team in the country, will face the winner of second-seeded Lander/seventh-seeded Wingate at 5 p.m. Saturday in the semifinal round. The tournament championship is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday. The winner of the Southeast Region will advance to the Elite Eight to be held in St. Joseph, Mo., March 22-23 and 25.

The Pacers placed four players in double figures led by Kayla Harris' 17 points. Harris connected on 6-of-11 floor shots, including 2-of-5 three pointers. She also made 3-of-4 free throws. Hannah DeGraffinreed added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Deandra Schirmer had 12 points and eight rebounds and Nakia Pinkney 12 points.

Tusculum was paced by Jasmine Gunn's game-high 20 points and nine assists. She connected on 5-of-16 floor shots and 8-of-9 free throws. Kendal Baxter and Catherine Hintz both added 13 points.

Down 58-51, Tusculum rallied to tie the game at 58-58 with 3:10 left to play. Jasmine Parker sank two free throws, Hintz completed a three-point play and Gunn added another two from the foul line.

DeGraffinreed connected on a field goal and two free throws to move USCA back up 62-58 with 1:42 left when she was fouled on a driving layup.

Gunn retaliated with two free throws to trim the lead to 62-60 at 1:07, then completed a three-point play with 30.7 seconds to make it 64-63.

Forced to foul the Pacers, Tusculum could only watch as USCA's Schirmer made two free throws and DeGraffinreed hit one to give USCA a 67-63 lead with 20.2 seconds left.

Baxter missed a long three with nine seconds left and USCA's Pinkney ended the scoring with wide open layup with 3.1 remaining.

After five lead changes to open the game, USC Aiken's Schirmer put the Pacers up 8-5 at 15:31 then they stretched the lead to 16-8 when Nakia Pinckney nailed a three with 10:53 left in the half.

The Pioneers cut the lead to 18-17 at 6:08 on a layup by Baxter, a putback by Linda Aughburns and a Baxter three.

USCA then went on a 10-run on two baskets each by Daniela Tarailo and Harris and another Pinkney three to take a 28-19 lead with 1:30 left.

USCA connected on 25-of-59 field goals for 42.4 percent, including 6-of-19 threes for 31.6 percent. The Pacers also made 13-of-17 free throws for 76.5 percent.

Tusculum (21-9), the defending Southeast Region champion, was 22-of-53 from the floor for 41.5 percent, including 6-of-9 threes for 66.7 percent. The Pioneers also sank 16-of-18 foul shots for 88.9 percent.

Quotes - Tusculum vs. USC Aiken

USC Aiken head coach Mike Brandt

On the game:

"We're pleased to get the first one under our belts. They say the first one is the hardest and I'll agree because this is my first one after two other tries. We had some great players step up and make great plays."

"I think this team is mentally prepared. They study the scouting reports, and put in the extra work. We're going to enjoy this win for a bit, and then refocus on the urgency of playing in the semifinals."

Freshman Forward Kayla Harris on in the huddle after the big lead disappeared

"Stay together, we've been in the situation before. We knew we needed to get defensive stops and we went out and did it."

Senior Forward Deandra Schirmer on playing in tight games

"Playing in the Peach Belt, every game's a tough game, so we're used to being in games that go down to the wire. We know in that situation we have to step up, hit free throws and get defensive stops."

Tusculum head coach Adell Harris

"All credit to USC Aiken, they're a good basketball team and have been all year. They stepped up and made both offensive and defensive plays when they needed them most. I'm extremely proud of our girls getting themselves in the position to fight for a win."

"Their players stepped up in key situations. They hit a couple of big shots late in the clock, Nakia Pickney made a jumper, and Hannah [DeGraffinreed] hit some shots, got more rebounds and more loose balls."