Box Score
PEMBROKE, N.C. – The 15th-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team outscored UNC Pembroke 17-11 over the final seven and a half minutes of the game to emerge with a 58-52 Peach Belt Conference victory over the Braves on Wednesday evening at the English E. Jones Center.
The Pacers (22-4, 14-2 PBC) were down by as many as six points in the second half, but by the 7:16 mark of the second half after a Triahna Harris (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) three-pointer the game was even at 41-41.
After a turnover by UNC Pembroke (10-14, 6-10 PBC) on its next offensive possession, USC Aiken took the lead for good on a Daniela Tarailo (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) three-pointer with just under six and a half minutes remaining in the game.
After a tip-in by Tarailo with 2:40 remaining the Pacers had extended their lead to seven points at 51-44 with 2:40 left in the contest. The Tarailo tip-in capped a 10-3 run by the Pacers over the almost five-minute stretch.
The Braves would cut the Pacer lead to as little as four in the final minute of the game, but USC Aiken behind two Tarailo free throws with 22 seconds remaining would settle the final score at 58-52.
The Pacer victory on Wednesday evening allowed USC Aiken to match its highest win total under ninth-year head coach Mike Brandt. The Pacers also won 22 games during the 2008-09 season.
USC Aiken is now just two wins away from tying the school record for most wins in a single season. The 1990-91 USC Aiken women's basketball team currently owns the school record for single season wins with 24.
The USC Aiken women's basketball team is currently in the midst of a six-game winning streak. Overall, the Pacers are winners of 17 of their last 19 games.
Tarailo was the leading scorer for the Pacers in their win over UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, finishing with 16 points. She was 5 for 12 from the field in the game. She knocked down four three-pointers.
Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) was the only other Pacer in double figures with 13. She also had five rebounds, three assists and a block.
Triahna Harris just missed on double figures with nine points, but she was able to end Wednesday's win with four assists. The four assists in the Pacer victory moved her into sole possession of second place in school history in total assists with 408.
Briana Stanton was the top scorer for UNC Pembroke in its loss to the Pacers. She ended her night with a game-high 19 points. Talena Faison added 11 for the Braves.
The nationally-ranked USC Aiken women will next travel to Savannah, Ga. for a PBC East Division game with Armstrong Atlantic. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19.
The game is the first game of a PBC doubleheader as the Pacer men will take the hardwood against the Pirate men immediately following the women's game at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Both of the games in the doubleheader will be able to be followed live on USC Aiken's official athletic website at www.PacerSports.com.
