Box Score AIKEN, S.C. _ The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team used a second-half rally to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit to win 62-56 over visiting Wingate Wednesday evening.
The Pacers are now 2-1 on the season while the Bulldogs are 0-1.
With the come-from-behind victory, head coach Mike Brandt picked up his 500th career win. USC Aiken trailed by as many as 14 with 6:23 left in the opening half.
Leading the way for the Pacers was junior Alexis Ware, who accounted for a career and game-high 18 points on six-of-11 shooting from the floor. Emry Tsitouris reached double figures with 10 points while snagging a game-best eight rebounds.
Rachelle Aupont came off the bench to net nine markers while Baylea Loven continued her strong effort with eight points and five rebounds. Mariah Durian dished out a game-high four assists.
Ware and Kassy Johannsen each swatted three shots while Aupont was in on a pair of blocks.
After Tsitouris opened the game with four straight points, the Bulldogs embarked on a 17-4 run to close out the first quarter.
Trailing 24-10 with 6:23 to go in the second quarter, Ware canned a three-point bucket off a pass from Durian, slicing the deficit to 11. USC Aiken inched closer the rest of the half, but still trailed by 10 at the break, 30-20.
Brandt's team trailed 37-25 before Ware and Johannsen connected on back-to-back shots, cutting the deficit to 37-30 with 5:38 to play in the third period.
Trailing 39-32, USC Aiken reeled off seven straight points, knotting the contest at 39-39. Loven and Aupont canned jumpers before Durian buried a three-point basket with 2:01 to go in the stanza.
USC Aiken trailed 43-39 in the fourth quarter, but Loven nailed a free throw and Ware drained a three-ball, tying it at 43-43. However, the Bulldogs regained a four-point edge before Brandt's team answered with eight straight points over a span of 3:11. During the spurt, Tsitouris hit a pair of free throws, Ware nailed a three-pointer and Ball hit a shot behind the three-point stripe for a 55-53 edge.
Over the last 5:46, Brandt's team clamped down defensively, allowing the Bulldogs to score just a pair of field goals while outscoring the visitors 15-5.
The Pacers hit 19-of-47 shots from the floor, including nine-of-23 from behind the arc. USC Aiken's bench accounted for 22 points while holding the Bulldogs to 10.
The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host Queens in a game that has been pushed back to a 5 p.m., start. The game was originally slated for 1:30 p.m., but USC Aiken is now hosting the PBC Volleyball Championship at 2 p.m.
