Box Score AIKEN, SC--After a sluggish start, the 20th ranked USC Aiken Lady Pacers (11-3) unloaded their frustrations on a Claflin University team (7-10) that upset them in overtime in Orangeburg, SC just three weeks ago.  This time, the Lady Pacers shot an impressive 64.3 percent in the second half (18-of-28) en route to a 77-51 non-conference win on Tuesday night at "The Courthouse".

The win snapped a 20-game losing streak to the Pantherettes dating back to 1981, and extended the Lady Pacers home court winning streak to 18 games.  

"Revenge was one of the words written on the chalk board in the locker room before the game," said first-year head coach Mike Brandt.  Claflin shocked USCA 74-67 in overtime on December 17 snapping their three-game winning streak.  

Erica Larsen scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench to lead three Lady Pacers in double figures.  Katie Mitchell continued her strong play with 15 points and six rebounds on 6-of-7 shooting from the field.  Mitchell is 13-of-14 from the floor over her last two games.  Senior Allison Nold added 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go with eight boards.  

After Candice Witherspoon's opening bucket for the Pantherettes, USCA reeled off a 10-0 run to force a Claflin timeout with 16:23 on the clock.  Larsen's two free throws with 13:32 to play pushed the lead to double digits at 16-6, but a 6-0 Pantherette run including three more of Witherspoon's 14 first half points, trimmed the advantage to 16-12 with 10:21 remaining.  

Claflin pulled with one point on three separate occasions in the last 6:33, but a 4-0 run to close the half capped by freshman Mindy Allee's three-pointer from the top of the key with 58 seconds to play gave USCA the 32-27 halftime lead.  To that point, the Lady Pacers had missed their first eight three-pointers and finished 1-of-9 for the half.  

The second half began just as the first frame.  Claflin drew first blood on April Newton's lone basket of the game only to see the Lady Pacers counter with a 13-0 run.  Nold had six points, one rebound, and one block during the spurt.  

???????USCA held the Pantherettes without a field goal for 7:55 until Witherspoon scored with 11:47 to play to cut the lead back to 49-36.  She finished with 18 points to lead Claflin.  
Sophomore Katie Gebhardt's three-pointer with six seconds left capped the scoring as the Lady Pacers won going away 77-51.  

After shooting a subpar 34.5 percent in the first half (10-of-29), USCA rebounded to finish at 49.1 percent for the game (28-of-57) despite a 2-of-14 performance from the three-point line (14.3 percent).  At the charity stripe, the Lady Pacers connected on 19-of-23 tosses for 82.6 percent.  

Senior All-Peach Belt Conference guards Jami Cornwell and Julie Szabo combined for 14 points, 15 assists, eight rebounds, and five steals.  

???????USCA out rebounded Claflin 43-29, forced 22 turnovers, and held the Pantherettes to 34.0 percent shooting (18-of-53).  

???????The Lady Pacers return to action on Saturday, January 11 when they travel to Morrow, GA for a key Peach Belt Conference showdown with early season surprise Clayton State at 5:30 PM.  

SCORING:
Claflin University (51): Candice Witherspoon 18, Tamara Middleton 8, LaKisha Griffin 6, Tammi Feacher 6, April Newton 3, Judene Wright 3, Jamal Morant 3, Kristy Scott 2, Towanna Johnson 2

#20 USC Aiken (77): Erica Larsen 16, Katie Mitchell 15, Allison Nold 14, Jami Cornwell 8, Sarah Kendrick 8, Julie Szabo 6, Mindy Allee 3, Katie Gebhardt 3, Jen Kennedy 2