USC Aiken women to take on new look

AIKEN --- Before taking over the USC Aiken women's basketball team seven years ago, coach Mike Brandt spent 13 years as a coach at the junior college level where the high turnover forces the two-year schools to field almost entirely new squads every season.

As he stepped back to consider his 2009-10 crop of players this week, Brandt couldn't help but recall his junior college days.

"It kind of feels like that," he said. "It's definitely a different year -- a new year here. That comfort zone we've had of a lot of starters returning and having a big core of veterans is gone now."

The Lady Pacers, who open the 2009-10 season on the road tonight at Anderson, do have a few familiar faces back on the court, but they'll look to their newcomers to make a quick impact.

The team lost the high-scoring threat of Meredith Legg to graduation along with starters Morgan Johnson, Megan Starnes and Satu Leppanen.

"For us to be successful our new players are going to have to come in quick and contribute," he said. "It's a learning process that has to take place, but they're all very coachable."

The early spotlight has fallen on sophomore transfer Hannah DeGraffinreed, a 5-foot-10 forward who tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds in the team's only exhibition game of the preseason. Deandra Schirmer and Catherine Cain, two more transfers, will also be expected to carry the load early.

Returning juniors Nakia Pinkney and Triahna Harris will lead the charge in the backcourt. Senior guard Kendra Chandler won't join the team until December due to eligibility issues.

"Right now for us it's more learning about how everybody else plays," Harris said.

Head coach: Mike Brandt; assistant coach: Cindy Hilbrich