Box Score

AIKEN, S.C. - The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team came up just short,62-57, in a come-from-behind effort against Georgia Southwestern on Monday night in the Convocation Center.

USC Aiken (5-6, 0-2 PBC) rallied to close within three points in the final moments of regulation despite shooting just 34 percent from the floor. The Pacers could not find their form for much of the game, connecting on just 4-of-18 shots from the floor and turning the ball over 13 times through the first 20 minutes.

Georgia Southwestern got 10 points from Brittany Reynolds in the first half to lead 25-15 at halftime.

Playing for the first time in 16 days, the Pacers struggled to find any rhythm offensively, but instead persevered with a never quit attitude that in the end rewarded them with a chance to get back in a ballgame that at one point seemed to be out of reach.

USC Aiken cut the Hurricane lead down to single digits at the 3:33 mark of the second half on a lay-up from Hannah DeGraffinreed (Raleigh, N.C. /Merrimack College) to trail by just nine points.

The Pacers continued to weather the storm against the Hurricanes and cut the deficit to seven points on another lay-up from DeGraffinreed 26 seconds later.

Georgia Southwestern rebuilt their lead to 11 points on a layup from Reynolds with 1:08 left in regulation, but Mike Brandt's squad made one final push to equalize over the final 68 seconds.

Nakia Pinkney (Orangeburg, S.C./Orangeburg-Wilkinson) answered Reynolds' lay-up with a three-pointer that cut the Hurricane lead to 60-54 with 41 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing Hurricane possession, Catherine Cain (Dayton, Ohio/Ohio University) stole the ball from Nadirah Gardner and found Pinkney on the right wing for another three-point basket drawing the Pacers to within three points, 60-57, with 19 seconds left.

The Hurricanes would hold on from there however, as Brandi Burris connected on both of her free-throw attempts to seal the win for Georgia Southwestern, 62-57.

USC Aiken will next travel to UNC Pembroke for the first of a two-game PBC road trip beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 5:30 pm. The Pacers will then travel to Savannah, Georgia for a 1:30 pm showdown on Jan. 9 against Armstrong Atlantic State. Both road trips will feature a double-header with the men's game immediately following the conclusion of the women's contests.

For those unable to make it to the games 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.