Box Score SPARTANBURG, SC--Kasey Mills came off the bench to score 17 points and lead four Lady Pacers in double figures as USC Aiken (9-3, 1-0 PBC) defeated USC Spartanburg (4-6, 0-1 PBC) 68-58 at the G.B. Hodge Center in the Peach Belt Conference opener for both teams. It was the ninth-straight win in the series for USCA, their longest current streak against any PBC opponent. The Lady Pacers now lead the all-time series with the Lady Rifles 30-22. 

Stephanie Feyes hit a three-pointer and Yakeeshia Ross had a put-back bucket at the 11:33 mark of the first half to give USC Spartanburg a 10-6 lead midway through the first half. But a 16-0 run by the Lady Pacers created substantial separation that they would maintain throughout the rest of the contest. 

Mills hit a three-point with 11:11 to play to ignite the run. Following a pair of Benazura Serbecic free throws, Mills drained another triple less than a minute later. Sarah Kendrick also drilled a three-ball as USCA claimed a 22-10 lead at the 6:27 mark of the first half. 

Mills hit 6-of-12 shots from the field, including 5-of-7 from downtown, to finish with a team-best 17 points and four steals in 27 minutes. Serbecic added 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting while Kendrick scored but five points, however, dished out five assists and swiped five of the team's 19 steals. 

Vania Redd's lay-up with 4:48 remaining ended a 6:45 field goal drought as the Lady Rifles reduced the advantage to 26-19 with 3:17 left until half. But a 10-0 USCA run to close out the half gave the Lady Pacers a 36-19 cushion at the break. 

Serbecic hit a baseline 10-footer with 5:22 to play in the second half as USC Aiken pulled ahead 60-42, equaling the largest lead of the game. However, missed shots and five turnovers helped the Lady Rifles produce a 16-4 run to cut the lead to 64-58 with 20.7 remaining. Kendrick and Katie Mitchell each connected on a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to set the final score at 68-58. 

Mitchell scored 10 points and grabbed four boards off the Lady Pacer bench. Erica Larsen was 7-of-10 from the field for 15 points, the fourth player in double figures. As a team, USC Aiken was a perfect 14-of-14 at the stripe while USC Spartanburg connected on 21-of-32 attempts for 65.6 percent. 

The Lady Pacers' bench outscored their counterparts 31-6 while also winning the points in the paint battle 22-8 and the battle of the boards 39-21. USCA, however, committed a season-high 32 turnovers as USC Spartanburg converted those into 27 points. 

For the game, USC Aiken shot 47.1 percent from the field (24-of-51) and 37.5 percent from long range (6-of-16). USC Spartanburg shot 35.7 percent from the field (15-of-42) and 46.7 percent from deep (7-of-15). 

USC Aiken, now 7-7 all-time in PBC road openers, will play at Kennesaw State on Saturday, January 10 at 2:00 PM in a key cross-divisional showdown. 

SCORING:
USC Aiken (68): Kasey Mills 17, Erica Larsen 15, Benazura Serbecic 10, Katie Mitchell 10, Lana Mandic 7, Sarah Kendrick 5, Katie Gebhardt 2, Haylee Reichert 2

USC Spartanburg (58): Vania Redd 17, Stephanie Feyes 13, Yakeeshia Ross 9, Sarah Jansen 9, Karon Dodd 6, Kia Manuel 4.