AIKEN, SC -- The University of North Georgia got 17 points from Caroline Martin and Ava McGlockton as they opened up a big lead in the first quarter and never looked back in an 82-53 win on the road at USC Aiken on Wednesday. With that win, the Nighthawks captured the Peach Belt Conference Regular-Season Championship and will be the #1 seed for the upcoming PBC Tournament.
The title is UNG's fifth overall and first since 2021-22. UNG will host the #8 seed in the PBC Tournament on Wednesday, March 5. If successful in that game, they will host the semifinals and finals in the Convocation Center on March 8 and 9. North Georgia last hosted the PBC finals in 2022, which was also their most recent tournament title.
On Wednesday night in Aiken, the championship form was present from the outset as the Nighthawks (25-2, 15-2 PBC) scored the first seven points against the Pacers (6-21, 3-14 PBC) and led 16-4 less than halfway through the quarter. Emily Trushel scored the opening bucket of the game and drilled a three-pointer to give UNG a 12-point advantage. A Pacer jumper from Sami Bardonaro cut the lead to eight at 18-10, but the Nighthawks answered with a Martin jumper that boosted the lead back to double-digits where it would remain the rest of the game.
UNG outscored USCA 20-7 in the second quarter and led 46-21 at the break. The #8-ranked team in the nation shot 57% from the floor in the first half.
That hot shooting continued in the second half as UNG hit 55% from the field. USCA outscored the Nighthawks 15-14 in the third, but the lead was still over 20 entering the fourth as UNG went on to win by 29.
Martin added three boards and three assists to her 17 points. McGlockton came off the bench for 17, hitting 8 of 8 field goals with five rebounds in only 18 minutes of floor time. Trushel finished with 13 and seven rebounds while Ansley Hall led with six assists.
Serena Baker led USCA with 13 points while Rhiannon Saller added seven rebounds.
North Georgia will close out the 2024-25 regular season on Saturday at home against Clayton State. Tip is set for 1:30 pm in the Convocation Center.