AIKEN, SC - Meredith Legg scored a game-high 23 points on a near-perfect shooting night as 20th-ranked USC Aiken handed Francis Marion University its first loss of the season 75-57, Wednesday evening (Jan. 7) in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball action.

Francis Marion, which was attempting to open 10-0 for the first time in 24 seasons, drops to 9-1 overall and 2-1 in the Peach Belt.  USCA has won four straight and improves to 11-3 and 3-1.

FMU entered the game with the nation's top scoring offense at 100.9 points per game, but was held to its lowest output in two seasons.

Junior guard Shanna Franks led the Patriots with 13 points and eight rebounds, while junior guard Eboni Fields added 12 points, but was only 1-of-8 from beyond the three-point arc.

FMU committed a season-high 31 fouls which allowed USCA to register a 32-16 advantage in points at the free throw line.  The Lady Pacers, the nation's eighth-best free throw shooting squad, had 44 total attempts at the stripe.

Legg was 6-of-7 from the field, including a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range, and 6-of-6 at the charity stripe.

A free throw by freshman center Dominique Powell gave FMU a 22-17 advantage with 8:47 left in the opening half.  However, the Patriots would go scoreless for the next 4:50, missing five consecutive shots, while USCA went on an 11-0 run to go up 28-22.  The Lady Pacers held a 38-31 lead at halftime.

USCA opened the second half with a 10-2 spurt that increased the margin to 15 points (48-33) with 16:33 remaining.  Francis Marion did not seriously threaten after that point.

USCA also outrebounded Francis Marion 46-30, although each squad registered only four second-chance points.  Patriots starters accounted for only 29 points, combined to shoot 9-for-33 from the field, and had one player foul out and three others were whistled for four fouls apiece.

FMU concludes its three-game Peach Belt road trip on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. when the Patriots play at Columbus State University.  FMU's next home game will be Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. against local-rival UNC Pembroke.

01/07/09 5:30 p.m. at Aiken, SC (Convocation Center)

#20 USC AIKEN 75, FRANCIS MARION 57

FRANCIS MARION (9-1, 2-1 PBC)

Franks, Shana 5-12 3-6 13; Fields, Eboni 5-12 1-2 12; Powell, Dominique 2-7 5-8 9; Singletary,Creshenda 3-9 0-0 7; Singleton-Bates, Sha 2-11 3-4 7;Dyer, Jennifer 1-6 2-2 5; Colbert, Robin 1-3 2-2 4; Kiefer, Katherine 0-00-0 0; Downs, Danelle 0-1 0-2 0; Ransom, Kevina 0-2 0-1 0; Morgan, Shaquana 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-63 16-27 57.

#20 USC AIKEN (10-3, 3-1 PBC)

LEGG, Meredith 6-7 6-6 23; CHANDLER, Kendra 6-12 3-7 15; STARNES, Megan 1-6 5-6 8; PINKNEY, Nakia 0-4 7-11 7; JOHNSON, Morgan 1-1 3-4 5; HARRIS, Triahna 1-3 3-4 5; SUNDBERG, Lindsay 1-3 1-2 4; LEPPANEN, Satu 2-3 0-0 4; CRAPPS, Cameron 0-0 2-2 2; GIBBS, Jazlyn 0-0 2-2 2; COATES, Nicole 0-0 0-0 0; FRIEDRICH, Tina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-39 32-44 75.

Halftime: USCA 38 Francis Marion 31

3-point goals--Francis Marion 3-22 (Fields 1-8; Dyer 1-5; Singletary 1-2; Colbert 0-1; Ransom 0-1; Singleton-Bates 0-1; Franks 0-4), USCA 7-13 (LEGG 5-5; SUNDBERG 1-2; STARNES 1-3; LEPPANEN 0-1; PINKNEY 0-2). Fouled out--Singleton-Bates. Rebounds--Francis Marion 30 (Franks 8), USC Aiken 46 (JOHNSON 11). Assists--Francis Marion 6 (Powell 2), USC Aiken 16 (HARRIS 5). Total fouls--Francis Marion 31, USC Aiken 20. Technical fouls--None. A-1001