Box Score AIKEN, SC--Erica Larsen scored 18 points and Benazura Serbecic posted her fourth double double in her last six games as USC Aiken (12-9, 4-6 PBC) steamed rolled Augusta State (16-6, 6-5 PBC) in the second half to cruise to a 73-45 win in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball. The 28-point victory marked the largest win for USC Aiken in the 51-game series history. 

In snapping a three-game skid, the Lady Pacers won for the seventh time in the last nine meetings with their archrivals. USCA also moves within one game of second place in the North Division, trailing both ASU and Francis Marion. 

Trailing 32-31 at the break, USC Aiken opened the second stanza with a 15-3 run keyed by nine straight points from Larsen. Two consecutive "old fashion" three-point plays by Larsen, the last at 16:12, pushed the margin into double figures for the first time at 46-35. She finished 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 at the charity stripe for a game-high 18 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. 

After Lana Mandic's jumper in the paint extended the advantage to 56-40, Brandi Hollingsworth drilled a three-pointer with 11:49 to play to stem the tide and make it 56-43. In the Lady Pacers finest half of basketball this season, however, ASU would score just two more points over the final 11:49 on a Latoya Renwrick field goal with 5:56 to play. Mandic finished with 10 points, all coming in the second half, to go with four rebounds. 

USC Aiken's defense held the Lady Jags to 12.5 percent shooting in the final frame on 4-of-32 from the field in out scoring ASU 42-13. The 45 points scored was the lowest of the season for the formerly nationally ranked Lady Jaguars. 

In the first half, the score was tied every two points until it was 8-8 with 15:35 remaining on an Alshaa Hodges bucket in the paint. She then canned a trey on the ensuing possession to spark a 9-0 Lady Jag run that resulted in a 15-8 ASU lead with 13:52 to play. Hodges led ASU with 14 points on 6-of-12 from the field. 

ASU maintained that edge until a 7-0 Lady Pacer run capped by a Kasey Mills' three-pointer gave USCA back the lead 17-16 with 10:20 on the clock. Another Mills' trifecta with 8:44 remaining knotted the game up for the fifth time in the half at 20-20. 

Larsen grabbed a missed shot by Sarah Kendrick and stuck it back in as USCA built a 29-24 lead with 3:36 left until half. 

USC Aiken went scoreless, however, over the final 3:00 minutes of the half as Faith Williams' three-point play with 25.3 on the clock sent Augusta State into the locker room with a 32-31 advantage. 

Serbecic scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Lady Pacers. Kendrick was the fourth player in double figures with 11 points to go with five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Mills scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists, and swiped six of the team's 17 steals. 

Head coach Mike Brandt also got solid contributions from his bench. Beata Szabo tied a career-high with six points to go with four assists while Haylee Reichert added six points and pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds. 

Ernesia Wideman added nine points on 2-of-10 shooting for Augusta State. Shundra Johnson chipped in two points and 10 boards. 

USC Aiken improves to 31-5 versus North Division foes over the past four seasons. They will travel to Greenwood, SC for a key conference showdown with division leading Lander University on Saturday, February 14 at 5:30 PM. Augusta State returns home to host Francis Marion on Saturday at 5:30 PM. 

SCORING:
Augusta State (45): Alshaa' Hodges 14, Ernesia Wideman 9, Brandi Hollingsworth 6, Latoya Renwrick 4, Faith Williams 4, Andrea McCurry 4, Cheryl Audain 2, Shundra Johnson 2

USC Aiken (73): Erica Larsen 18, Benazura Serbecic 12, Sarah Kendrick 11, Lana Mandic 10, Kasey Mills 7, Beata Szabo 6, Haylee Reichert 6, Amy Ransom 2, Katie Mitchell 1.
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