Feb. 28, 2007

GREENWOOD, S.C. - Armstrong Atlantic State used a key 21-4 run in the first half to turn a one-point deficit into a 16-point lead and went on for a 76-63 victory over USC Upstate in the first round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament at Horne Arena.

Upstate finishes its season with an 11-17 record. Armstrong Atlantic State improves to 15-13 and advances to the quarterfinals to face Clayton State Thursday afternoon at 3:00.

Courtney Bradley capped a 14-3 run with a three-pointer with 7:11 to play in the first half to give Upstate a 25-24 lead. Armstrong answered by holding the Spartans without a field goal for the final 7:11 of the half and closed the half with a 22-4 run to take a 46-29 lead at halftime.

Upstate cut the lead to 14 points midway through the second half, but could not get close enough to make a run until late in the game when the contest was no longer in doubt.

Kaneetha Gordon led Armstrong Atlantic State with 17 points and a Peach Belt Tournament record 23 rebounds. Rebounding was a key to the game as the Pirates held a 58-35 advantage on the boards. Armstrong Atlantic State grabbed 25 offensive rebounds en route to 18 second chance points.

"I thought we looked very sluggish," said Upstate head coach Tammy George. "We weren't moving well, we didn't shoot the ball well, and we didn't rebound. We got killed on the boards and they were getting two shots to our one. That was the difference in the game."

Lacey Willis finished with 14 points for Armstrong Atlantic State, while Ameshia Bryant added a solid eight points and eight rebounds.

Bradley led Upstate with 17 points and eight rebounds. Emily Lovik added a career-high 16 points and three boards, while Courtney Hawkins finished with 13 points and six rebounds.