Box Score

AIKEN, S.C. - USC Aiken used a 11-2 run in the opening minutes of the second half to change the complexity of a close game that would eventually end with the Pacers rolling to their third consecutive victory in a 66-51 win over Peach Belt Conference foe Flagler on Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center.

The Pacers with the victory over the Saints improved back to .500 at 9-9 overall. USC Aiken is now within one game of returning back to .500 in league action at 4-5. Flagler dropped to 6-8 overall with the loss to the Pacers. In their first season in the PBC, the Saints are 1-4 in league play.

The game on Wednesday was the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Flagler never really led in the game except in the opening minutes, going up by four at 4-0 with 16:15 remaining in the first half of play. The Pacers would go on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to own a 7-4 lead with 13:16 left in the contest.

The Pacers would never trail again, but the game did remain close as the two teams went into intermission with the Pacers on top 25-23.

USC Aiken's 11-2 run to start the second half would open up the close game. The Pacers held a 36-25 advantage with 16:59 left in the contest. The Saints would only be able to cut the Pacer lead back to single digits once during the second half with the Pacers holding a dynamic 17-point, 62-45 lead with 1:20 left in the game. Daniela Tarailo's (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) lay-up with 23 seconds still on the clock would settle the final score at 66-51 in the Pacers' favor.

Hannah DeGraffinreed (Raleigh, N.C./Merrimack) led the Pacers in the victory over Flagler. DeGraffinreed came off the bench to score a game-high 16. She was 7-for-9 from the field in the game.

The only other Pacer in double figures was Kendra Chandler (Aiken, S.C./Aiken). The local product hit on five of her seven attempts from the field en route to collecting 13 points.

Fresh off a career-high tying eight assists in USC Aiken's win over North Georgia, Triahna Harris (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) had another excellent outing dishing the basketball with the junior guard ending her efforts with six assists.

Flagler had two players secure double figures in the loss with Adrienne Donelson (12) and Jen Mitchell (11) both acquiring double-digit outputs.

USC Aiken concluded the victory shooting 50 percent as a team. The Pacers knocked down 27 of their 54 shots as a team in the victory. USC Aiken shot a staggering 60.7 percent (17-for-29) from the field in the second half.

In turn, the Pacer defense held Flagler to a 36 percent (18-for-50) shooting performance as a team.

USC Aiken's week will conclude next with the Pacers taking on proximity and league rival Lander for a PBC men's and women's basketball twinbill at the Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 23. The night will be sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran Church, which will honor its basketball teams during the evening. It will also be Millbrook Baptist Church Upward Basketball Night at the Convocation Center. Millbrook Baptist Church Upward Basketball and Cheerleading is a ministry of Millbrook Baptist Church and is open to the Aiken Community.

Local favorite Burns Dance Studio will be performing for all those in attendance as well.

For those unable to make it to any of the game on the week as always the USC Aiken Sports Information Department has you covered. Live stats and a live webcast will be available for Pacer fans who are unable to attend the games. The live stats and webcast can be accessed for free by clicking on the live stats link and the video link at www.pacersports.com.