Patience is key for Lady Pacers

Coming off the first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Mike Brandt, USC Aiken will look much different this time around.

Gone is first-team all-Peach Belt guard Kasey Mills. Gone are frontcourt mates Lana Mandic and Benazura Serbecic. Gone are five of the team's top seven scorers.

"I don't think we'll be as consistent as we need to be," said Brandt, now entering his fourth season. "I think 'patience' is a good word."

Ten underclassmen - including seven freshmen and two transfers - will suit up when the Lady Pacers play host to Carson-Newman at 5:30 tonight in their season opener.

USC Aiken is coming off a 19-13 campaign, capped by an at-large bid to the postseason. The Lady Pacers, who ended the season by losing six of nine games, fell to Shaw in the first round of the 64-team tournament.

The season came as a surprise, since the squad was picked to finish 10th of 12 teams in a preseason poll of Peach Belt coaches.

"Last year, with the team we had and the injuries we had, we did an exceptional job," Brandt said. "We probably didn't have as much talent as other teams. I was pleased with the effort."

Brandt said when he put together a recruiting plan, he thought of the great Columbus State teams loaded with talent through the years.

He brought in guard Avonte Williams, a Division I transfer from Robert Morris. Brandt landed another guard in Augustan LaToshia Broadwater by way of Florida Community College.

He then added seven freshmen, including guards Meredith Legg and Aiken's Kendra Chandler. Legg set five scoring records at Hopewell (N.C.) High School.

"There's definitely a lot of newcomers, a lot of new faces," Brandt said. "I think we're more of a Peach Belt team with more athleticism than we've had in the past."

Point guard Mindy Allee, voted team captain, and forward Nola Grant are the returning starters. Allee returned from a torn ACL two seasons ago to finish third in assists (4.56) in the Peach Belt. Grant averaged 10.4 points and 6.2 boards per game.

USC Aiken was picked to finish sixth in the Peach Belt this season. Brandt said finishing in the top half of the conference is a modest goal.

"I think we can compete with all the teams in the conference," he said. "But if we're not playing at the top of our games, we can lose to anybody."