USC Aiken’s DeGraffinreed Named Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Peach Belt Conference office announced on Monday afternoon that USC Aiken women’s basketball player Hannah DeGraffinreed had been selected as the first Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week of the 2009-10 season.

The award is the second of the day for DeGraffinreed, who was also chosen as the USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday, Nov. 23.
In USC Aiken’s regular season-opening three wins last week, DeGraffinreed averaged 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.

DeGraffinreed collected a double-double in all three of USC Aiken’s victories last week. Lethal from the field last week, DeGraffinreed finished her first three regular season contests in a Pacer uniform shooting 63.3 percent (19-for-30) from the field. She was 17-for-22 (77.3 percent) from the free throw line.

DeGraffinreed (Raleigh, N.C./Merrimack College) finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in USC Aiken’s season-opening victory over Anderson. She also dished out a team-high three assists on the night.

DeGraffinreed once again led the Pacers in their win last Friday against Glenville State. The sophomore transfer ended USC Aiken’s first game of the 2009 Lady Jaguar Tip-Off Classic at Christenberry Fieldhouse with 27 points and 16 rebounds. DeGraffinreed was an impressive 8-for-12 from the field and 11-for-14 from the free throw line in the contest.

DeGraffinreed’s third straight double-double performance came in USC Aiken’s win over North Greenville in the Pacers’ final contest of the 2009 Lady Jaguar Tip-Off Classic. The 5-foot-10 forward led all scorers in the game with 17 points. She finished with a team-high 10 rebounds in 34 minutes of work.

Degraffinreed’s efforts over the course of the tournament did not go unnoticed as she was awarded as the Tip-Off Classic Most Valuable Player.

DeGraffinreed and the Pacers will play the final contest of their four-game regular season-opening road trip on Tuesday Nov. 24 against No. 20 Lenoir-Rhyne at 5:30 p.m. in Hickory, N.C. Lenoir-Rhyne will offer live stats and a live audio webcast. Both links can be accessed by visiting the women’s basketball schedule or the main upcoming schedule at http://www.PacerSports.com.

USC Aiken will then host Wingate for their home-opener in the Convocation Center at 6 p.m. on Monday Nov. 30. Live stats and a live webcast will be available for Pacer fans who are unable to attend the game. The live stats and webcast can be accessed for free by clicking on the live stats link and the video links at http://www.pacersports.com.

The Resident Student Association and the Pacer Fanatics will be hosting a pre-party before the first home women’s basketball game against Wingate on Nov. 30 from 4-6 p.m.  The event will feature free pizza, hair painting, drinks, music and fun.