JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team overcame a seven-point halftime deficit en route to a 77-70 victory over Lincoln Memorial in a neutral site contest.

The Pacers are now 1-1 on the season.

Although head coach Mike Brandt's team found itself trailing by seven at halftime, the team was unable to cut into the deficit much in the early going of the second half. In fact, USC Aiken trailed 57-45 after Stephanie Smith made a lay-up for the designated visitors.

However, Kate Duff answered at the 9:26 mark with a three-point shot, cutting the margin to nine. It was also the start of a 10-0 run by the designated home team.

After Kassy Johannsen snared a rebound, Mackenzie Reese took a pass from Amaura Brandt for a lay-up, making it 57-50 with 9:04 to play. Kately Grisillo stole the ball and Johannsen was fouled. She calmly went to the charity stripe and canned both attempts, pushing the score to 57-52. Stephanie Ball completed the spurt by draining a three-point jumper off a pass from Kate Duff.

LMU hit a basket with 6:38 to play, making it a 59-55 contest, but Grisillo answered with a pair of free throws after snagging an offensive board. The Railsplitters made it a four-point game at 63-59 with just under five minutes to go, but Brandt's team was relentless.

Grisillo found Duff for a three-pointer as the deficit was trimmed to just one at 63-62. Mariah Durian not only tied the game, but pushed the Pacers in front by one after she stole the ball, was fouled and connected on a pair of free throws with 4:09 to go.

Ball made a lay-up after recording a steal for a three-point edge.

Leading 68-65 with just over two minutes to play, Reese took a pass from Grisillo and converted it for a five-point working margin. Although the Railsplitters countered with a three-pointer, making it 70-68, Ball was up for the challenge as she stepped into a pass from Brandt and drilled a three-ball for a 73-68 lead with just 1:35 to play.

LMU pulled within three with 47 ticks on the clock, but Ball and Durian each hit a pair of charity tosses down the stretch, solidifying the first victory of the season for USC Aiken.

Durian and Reese led the way by each netting 16 points. Reese added a team-best seven rebounds. Ball accounted for 14 points while Duff totaled 11 points and a game-high six steals.

Johannsen and Brandt chipped in eight and six points, respectively.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 23-of-63 shots from the floor (36.5 percent), including eight-of-23 (34.8 percent) from downtown. The squad got to the line 32 times, connecting on 23 attempts (71.9 percent).

Brandt's team dished out 19 assists on 23 buckets and forced 25 turnovers. USC Aiken turned the 25 turnovers into 25 points.

For their effort, Durian and Reese were named to the all-tournament team.

The Pacers open their home slate on Wednesday, when they host Anderson. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.