USCA women get revenge at home

USC Aiken's Kayla Harris (24) looks to pass during a 58-44 win over UNC Pembroke. Harris scored 13 points.

Coming off one of its biggest wins of the season, the No. 15 USC Aiken women's basketball team had the chance to settle a score from earlier. The Pacers game Saturday was a rematch with UNC Pembroke, the team that upset them on the road back in January. That loss snapped USCA's team-record 12-game winning streak and helped to knock it out of first place in the Peach Belt Conference's East Division.

Pacer coach Mike Brandt admitted there was extra significance, saying that the P in UNCP on the team's bulletin board, stood for payback. It didn't come easy, but USCA evened the season series by winning a game dominated by defense, 58-44.

"This was a big win; it gives us momentum, carried over from Lander," Brandt said, referencing the Pacers' victory over the No. 17 Bearcats on Wednesday.

As big as that win was for USCA (19-3, 12-2), it wouldn't have meant as much had it lost Saturday. With the most recent victory, the Pacers remain one game behind Lander in the East Division, with another showdown looming on Feb. 18 at the Convocation Center, where they improved to a perfect 10-0 this season. But that game, and any thoughts USCA harbors about hosting the Southeast Regional, would've been rendered moot if UNCP pulled off another upset.

The Braves (11-11, 8-6) never had that chance, in large part because of the Pacers' stifling defense. UNCP was limited to 15 points in the first half, when it only made five field goals while shooting a meager 22 percent.

"Our defense was much better," Brandt said of his team's effort compared to the January loss. "When you hold a team to 15 points in a half, that's pretty good defense."

For the game, the Braves made just 15 of 48 shots (31 percent). Their struggles were vital to the Pacers, who had their fair share of problems scoring. They only connected on 36 percent of their field goal attempts, looking out of sync for stretches.

"It was Pembroke," Brandt said of the root of his squad's troubles. "They play a different style of defense. They sag off and lull you to sleep. Give credit to them, but we were able to suck it up on defense and get the job done."

USCA was also able to get the job done on the boards. It out-rebounded UNCP 45-37, which created a number of second-chance scoring opportunities. The Pacers took 61 shots in the game - 13 more than the Braves - and also created further scoring opportunities by forcing turnovers.

The key player pulling the trigger for USCA was Lindsay Sundberg. The senior forward came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points. She was especially vital in the first half, when she posted 14 points.

As almost everyone else was struggling, Sundberg was on target. She hit 5 of 6 shots, including a perfect 4 for 4 from 3-point range.

"She kept us in the game. At the half, it was UNCP 15, Lindsay 14," Brandt said. "She gave us a nice lift."

Sundberg was the driving force behind USCA's 21-7 scoring advantage amongst the team's bench players. That 14-point difference matched the final margin of victory. Sundberg couldn't disguise the joy with which she played, clearly smiling or reacting positively when she converted a big play, like she did when she hit a runner in traffic to beat the defense and an expiring shot clock in the first half.

"I tried to come out with energy and have fun," said Sundberg, who added she had some extra motivation. "I've got five (regular-season) games left in my career. If I don't do it now, I'll be mad afterward."

Daniela Tarailo had 10 points and a game-best eight rebounds for the Pacers, who also got 13 points from Kayla Harris. She battled throughout the challenging game, making only 4 of 11 shots before fouling out, while fellow front-court stalwart Hannah DeGraffinreed struggled to a 3-for-10 performance.

"It was a tough, physical game. Some of our best players didn't play their best, but we still found a way to win, and that's the sign of a good team," Brandt said of his squad, which will go to Augusta State on Wednesday before playing host to Lander. "We want to continue trying to play our best basketball. To keep growing as a team and get better."