FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo women’s basketball team fell to the University of South Carolina in Aiken 69-59 in a Peach Belt Conference contest Feb. 10.

The Falcons struggled offensively early in the contest but never gave up as they continued to battle until late in the second half against the No. 15 ranked team in the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ NCAA Division II poll. Montevallo shot just 14 free throws compared to USC-Aiken’s 35 attempts, which proved to be the difference in the end.

Montevallo (8-13 overall, 4-8 in Peach Belt Conference) was led by junior Tiffany McClure, who had 13 points, three assists and four steals.

Junior Shavonne Seymore chipped in nine points. Senior Jessica Collins had six points, a team-high seven assists and five rebounds. Senior Carrie Parrott added eight points and six boards to the effort.

A layup by Seymore with 18:55 to play in the first half was all the Falcons could muster in the opening 10 minutes, as USC-Aiken pulled ahead by 14 points at 16-2 by the 8:57 mark of the opening half. A 3-pointer by Alex Strickland snapped the Falcons’ scoreless drought with 8:37 remaining in the first half of play.

The Pacers clinged to a 35-26 lead at the halftime break.

After keeping the lead around or above double digits for most of the early part of the second half, the Pacers held a 12-point advantage at 52-40 after a three-point play with 9:47 left in the contest.

Montevallo proceeded to go on an 11-4 run over the next four minutes to pull within five points, at 56-51, with 5:24 left in the second half. The Falcons couldn’t cut the lead under five points in the final five minutes.