USCA Women knock off Lander

GREENWOOD -- The nationally 15th-ranked USC Aiken women's basketball team scored a thrilling 65-62 Peach Belt Conference victory on the road over No. 17 Lander on Wednesday.

The win allows the Pacers (18-3, 11-2) to move within a game of the first-place Bearcats (17-4, 12-1) in the PBC East Division. It was the first league loss of the season for Lander.

Behind eight early points from Daniela Tarailo, USCA held an 18-14 lead with 9:03 to play in the first half. Tarailo finished the game with 10 points, and was one of four Pacers to score in double figures. Layups by Kayla Harris - who scored a game-high 21 points to go with a career-best 13 rebounds - and Hannah DeGraffinreed (14 points, five rebounds) extended USCA's lead to double digits, giving it a 28-17 advantage.

Harris shot 8-for-15 from the field in the game, and was part of a hot-shooting Pacer attack that finished the first half on a 22-5 run. Lander, conversely, struggled to score in the game's first 20 minutes. The low point for the Bearcats came when they were held scoreless for the final 6:39 of the first half, allowing USCA to enter intermission with a 34-17 lead.

The Pacers finished the first half shooting a scorching 58.3 percent (14-for-24) as a team, and were led by Harris' 11 points in the stanza. Lander was limited to just 25 percent (7-for-28) shooting as a team in the first half.

The Bearcats found their scoring touch in the second half. After falling behind by as many as 18 points, they rallied and cut the Pacer lead to 54-51. A 3-pointer by Lander's Jasmine Judge shortly thereafter tied the game with 5:10 remaining in the contest.

Rather than fold, USCA responded with a 4-0 run to reclaim the lead. The final moments were back and forth, as Lander cut the lead to 64-62 with 5 seconds to play after Brittni Johnson hit a 3-pointer. Johnson led the Bearcats with 20 points, but couldn't connect on one last attempt. Harris made one of two free throws to give the Pacers a three-point lead with 4 seconds remaining and one last shot for Lander. But Johnson's long-range 3-point attempt was off target, leaving the resilient Pacers with a big win.

USCA finished the game shooting a season-best 55.6 percent (25-for-45). The Pacers also hit 70.6 percent (12-of-17) of their free throws. The Pacers, who held the Bearcats to 42.6 percent (23-for-54) shooting, finished the contest out-rebounding Lander, 39-24.

Lindsay Sundberg scored 12 points for USCA, going 5-for-6 from the field. Pacer point guard Brittany Hill contributed seven assists, five rebounds and two steals. USCA's next game will be at home on Saturday against UNC Pembroke at 5:30 p.m.