AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team held UNC Pembroke scoreless over the last 2:50 en route to a 58-53 victory Wednesday evening.

The Pacers improve to 14-8 on the season and 10-3 against league competition. The Braves fall to 6-14 on the year and 4-9 in Peach Belt Conference play.

Sophomores Carly Gilreath and Kate Duff each connected for a team-high 12 points while Mackenzie Reese added 11 in the win. Reese narrowly missed out on a double-double by grabbing nine rebounds. 

Freshman Emry Tsitouris added nine points and a game-best 11 rebounds. Amaura Brandt and Kassy Johannsen had six points apiece. Brandt snagged seven rebounds while Johannsen swatted away three shots.

Head coach Mike Brandt's team held the visitors to 17-of-54 shooting (31.5 percent) while his team hit 18-of-50 shots (36.0 percent). The Pacers were solid behind the three-point stripe, drilling six-of-13 (46.2 percent). At the charity stripe, USC Aiken connected on 16-of-21 (76.2 percent). 

The Pacers out-rebounded the Braves 41-34, helping the squad outscore the visitors 13-9 on second-chance points.

USC Aiken started off strong, taking a 9-4 lead on a three-pointer by Duff. A three-point shot by Gilreath pushed the margin to five at 14-9 with 13:02 to go. However, the Braves went on an 11-2 run, taking a 20-16 advantage.

Trailing 30-21, USC Aiken embarked on a 9-0 spurt to close the half. With 3:14 to go, Reese hit a jumper. Just over a minute later, she nailed a three-pointer. Gilreath drilled a three-pointer and Duff made one-of-two free throws, knotting the contest at intermission.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair. The Pacers jumped out to a 34-30 lead only to see UNC Pembroke snag a 41-39 advantage with 11:51 to go.

USC Aiken took a four-point edge when Duff took a pass from Brandt and nailed a runner with 8:10 to play. However, the Braves tied it at 47 with 5:14 to go. Brandt's team countered quickly with a shot by Tsitouris. A lay-up by Johannsen made it 51-47, but UNC Pembroke scored six of the next eight points, tying the contest with 2:50 to play.

USC Aiken's play was outstanding the rest of the way. After Brandt grabbed an offensive rebound and made one-of-two foul shots, Tsitouris snagged the offensive board. She was fouled and made one, giving the team a 55-53 advantage. 

The Pacers forced the Braves to miss a three-point jumper before Tsitouris grabbed a rebound and was fouled. She hit both free throws for a 57-53 margin. USC Aiken's defense forced a turnover with 25 seconds to play. Gilreath was fouled and made one-of-two for the 58-53 score. Brandt's team forced the visitors into a turnover and a missed shot in the waning seconds, securing the victory.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they travel to Lander. The game is slated to start at 1:30 p.m.