FLORENCE, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team fell in a hard-fought 71-70 game at Francis Marion Saturday afternoon in a Peach Belt Conference contest.
The Pacers are now 13-10 overall, including 9-5 against conference foes. The Patriots improve to 12-11 overall and 7-7 against league competition.
Leading the way for USC Aiken was
Kwajelin Farrar with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Rachelle Aupont totaled 13 points while
Kate Duff notched 12 points and two rebounds.
Carly Gilreath accounted for 10 points to go along with a game-high eight assists.
Jasmine Coach and
Melyk Taouil chipped in six points apiece.
Head coach
Mark Miller's team started off strong as Duff buried a three-point shot to make it 11-8 with 2:29 to play in the first quarter off the pass from
Alexis Ware. After a bucket by the Patriots, Ware's three-pointer off a nice pass from
Emily Waters propelled the team to a 14-10 advantage. The Pacers closed out the quarter with a shot from downtown by Duff for a 19-15 edge.
However, FMU would fight back and take an early lead in the second frame. The Patriots would go on to take a 36-29 lead with 2:32 to play. After a time-out by Miller, Gilreath converted a lay-up to make it a five-point contest. Aupont netted a three-ball with 1:55 to go, pulling the squad within two at 36-34.
The Patriots would hold a 38-36 lead before the Pacers went on a 6-0 spurt to close out the half. During the run, Aupont hit two free throws. She stole a pass and found Farrar for a lay-up, giving USC Aiken a 40-38 advantage. Farrar's jumper in the lane off the nice pass from Gilreath allowed the visitors to take a 42-38 score into halftime.
After being outscored by eight in the third quarter, USC Aiken found itself down by four going into the final period.
A basket by Gilreath knotted the contest with 7:21 to play. Gilreath and Farrar made the next two shots for a 60-56 edge.
FMU reeled off seven straight points for a 63-60 lead before a jumper by Gilreath pulled the visitors within one with 3:26 to play.
Trailing 67-64, Farrar found Duff for a three-point shot with 2:01 to go. A foul shot by Duff gave the Pacers a one-point edge.
The Patriots went up 69-68 with 59 seconds to go, but Farrar's put-back gave Miller's team a 70-69 advantage with six ticks on the clock. The Patriots countered and buried a jumper with a second left to play. After a time-out, Aupont got the pass and rocketed up a three-point attempt that narrowly missed.
For the game, Miller's team hit 28-of-59 from the floor (47.5 percent), including seven-of-17 from downtown (41.2 percent). USC Aiken dished out 21 assists for the contest.
The Pacers return to action Monday when they host Armstrong State at 5:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
