COLUMBIA, S.C. – Rookie
Marissa Bruce connected on a shot with two seconds remaining as the University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team knocked off No. 25 Benedict, 61-59.
The Pacers are now 1-2 on the season while the Tigers fall to 0-1.
Trailing 18-14 after the first quarter, head coach
Mark Miller's team knotted the game up at 22-22 with 8:09 to play in the half on an old-fashioned three-point play by
Emily Waters. The home team embarked on an 8-0 run before USC Aiken sliced into the lead once again. A free throw from
Melyk Taouil made it a 32-30 contest with 1:16 to go before the half. However, Benedict managed to score four of the next six points before the break for the 36-32 advantage at intermission.
Down by eight at 44-36, Taouil connected on a deep three-ball off a pass from
Kyrie' Chandler with 4:29 to play in the third frame. Moments later,
Lonesha Lee canned a three-point shot. Taouil hit a jumper and Waters added a lay-up for a 47-44 advantage. Lee tacked on a free throw at the 1:46 mark, completing the 12-0 run by Miller's team. USC Aiken held a 50-48 margin heading into the fourth quarter.
In a back-and-forth affair over the final 10 minutes, the Pacers took a 59-57 lead with 3:11 to play on a basket by
Shay Fluellyn. However, the Tigers tied the score with 1:57 left to play in regulation.
Neither team could convert chances. After the Tigers corralled an offensive rebound, Chandler recorded a steal with three ticks remaining. Bruce canned a lay-up with two seconds to go for the game-winning shot. Benedict missed a jumper with one second to go as the Pacers picked up their first win of the season.
For the game, Bruce and Taouil led the way with 12 points apiece. Lee netted 10 markers. Fluellyn and Waters added eight points apiece while Chandler chipped in seven markers.
Bruce was huge on the glass, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds for her first career double-double effort.
For the game, USC Aiken hit 20-of-58 from the floor (34.5 percent), including six-of-22 from downtown (27.3 percent).
The Pacers return to action Sunday when they travel to Paine for a 2 p.m., contest.
