Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – In the first-ever top-5 showdown in program history, the nationally third-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team had its program-record tying 12-game win streak snapped in a 56-50 loss to No. 4 Clayton State on Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center.
With the loss, USC Aiken (12-1, 5-1 PBC) still remains in first place in the Peach Belt Conference East Division. Clayton State (14-0, 7-0 PBC) after its win is still on top of the Peach Belt Conference West Division standings.
The USC Aiken loss also snapped a 25-game regular-season home winning streak for the Pacers. The Pacers had not lost at home in the regular-season since falling in a nationally-televised top-20 showdown between the then 18th-ranked Pacers and No. 5 Clayton State on Jan. 15, 2011.
In a game that completely lived up to its national billing, the score changed hands seven times and was tied eight times.
The Pacers opened the contest on an 11-2 run over the first five and a half minutes.
Clayton State would battle its way back into the contest from there with the two teams entering halftime tied 25-25.
The second half would be much the same as the first stanza with the two top-5 teams playing close the whole way. The game was still knotted at 50-50 with 34 seconds left in the game.
Clayton State would then score the final six points of the game to narrowly take the victory.
Two of the best defensive teams in the country showed why it is so hard to score against each other with the Pacers holding Clayton State to just 37.3 percent (19-for-51) shooting as a team in the game.
Clayton State in turn held USC Aiken to a season-low 25.9 percent (14-for-54) shooting in the game. Second nationally in 3-point field goal percentage entering the top-5 showdown, USC Aiken was only able to hit four of its 20 attempts (20 percent) as a team from beyond the arc.
The Pacers finished their loss to Clayton State shooting 64.3 percent (18-for-28) from the free throw line.
Three Pacers concluded the loss in double figures with Daniela Tarailo (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point HS) leading the way with 12 points.
Porsha Martin (Douglasville, Ga./South Paulding HS) claimed the first double-double of her career in the contest, ending the game with a game-high and career-high 15 rebounds to go along with 10 points. She acquired six of the 15 caroms on the offensive glass.
USC Aiken preseason All-American Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield HS), who left the contest late in the game due to injury, finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. She also had four steals.
Drameka Griggs was the only Clayton State player in double figures. She ended the contest with a game-high 20 points. She also had nine rebounds and five assists.
USC Aiken will next hit the road to face off against Peach Belt Conference newcomer Young Harris on Saturday, Jan. 19. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
