Lakers crush young Pacers

AIKEN - With nearly 80 percent of his team underclassmen, USC Aiken women's basketball coach Mike Brandt knew what he was in for this season.

USC Aiken's road upset of Columbus State on Wednesday, a major high. Saturday's game against the reigning Peach Belt Conference champs, the other end of the spectrum.

Teri Willis scored a game-high 23 points, and Clayton State used a huge second half for a 79-57 win at the Courthouse.

"I expected a lot of ups and downs," Brandt said. "It's just all part of a learning process."

Clayton State schooled USC Aiken, abusing its zone defense in the second half to the tune of 67 percent shooting, including an 8-for-12 effort from 3-point range.

Jasmine Patterson posted 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Lakers. Willis, the team's fourth-leading scorer, poured in 15 points in the second half on five of her seven 3-pointers.

"Any time someone makes seven 3s, it's going to be a surprise," Brandt said. "No one's going to make seven 3s in a game consistently."

Clayton State outscored USC Aiken 49-26 in the second half, closing the game on a 26-5 run the final 8 minutes.

"We didn't get it done on our defensive end," said Meredith Legg, who led USC Aiken with 15 points. "They got too many open shots.

"We had too many opportunities that we didn't finish, and they converted theirs."

USC Aiken (5-6, 1-3) opened the game ready for the league-leading Lakers (11-1, 5-0). The Pacers pounded the boards early, scoring their first 24 points either inside the paint or on the foul line and taking a 31-30 lead into intermission.

Clayton State, which easily beat Augusta State on Wednesday, reeled off nine points to open the second half.

USC Aiken closed an 8-point deficit to 1 on a Legg 3-pointer with 8:38 remaining. Less than a minute later, the Lady Pacers trailed by two and found themselves in the double bonus. It wouldn't matter.

Willis drained consecutive 3-pointers. Crystal Brown added a layup. Clayton State led 63-53.

The Lakers continued to pour it on, while USC Aiken couldn't buy a basket, making one field goal in the final 8 minutes.

"We might have slipped a little defensively, not getting their shooters covered," Brandt said. "They just got on a roll, and it was tough to stop it."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.