MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Women's Basketball team (13-10, 5-8 PBC) dug an early hole and nearly pulled off an epic comeback Wednesday, losing to USC Aiken (14-9, 8-5 PBC) 62-60 in the Centennial Center.

GCSU trailed by 23 points after the Pacers took a 36-13 lead 32 seconds into the second half. The Bobcats then lit the fire for the massive comeback.

Senior guard Harper Vick (Marietta) led the charge in a big, 24-point third quarter, netting 10 on her own while going 4-for-5 from the field. Starting mid-way through the third, the Bobcats went on a 18-0 run, capped by an Alexa Geary (Calhoun) three with 8:35 left in the fourth, cutting USCA's lead to just three.

The Bobcats took their first lead at 53-52 thanks to a put-back layup from sophomore Jada Warren (Norcross) with 3:08 left in the game. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the game, the Pacers taking their final two-point lead on a free-throw with four seconds remaining. GCSU had a chance to tie rattle out as time expired.

The Bobcats were led by Vick with 14 points, going 5-for-9 from the field and making all four of her free-throw attempts. Sophomore Ashyia Willis (Gainesville) ran the offense well, finishing with eight points and six assists to just a single turnover.

Warren added a monster game, pulling in 12 rebounds to go with six points. The Bobcats did a great job on the glass, out-rebounding the Pacers 41-36, getting 12 from Warren and another six off the pine from Cassidy Markle (Cumming).

The loss puts the Bobcats at 5-8 in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) standings, positioned eighth. The top eight teams advance to the PBC Tournament, beginning March 1.

The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m., traveling to No. 22 Georgia Southwestern State University. The Bobcats lost to the Hurricanes 72-48 back on Jan. 7.

Owning the top Academic Success Rate among public schools in Division II, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won three-straight Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.