AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team cruised to a 72-52 win over Augusta Wednesday evening in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers are now 5-13 overall and 2-10 in league play. The Jaguars fall to 3-13 on the year and are 1-11 against conference competition.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was paced by Phenecia Howard's game-high 20 points. She canned a career-high six three-point shots off the bench in 28 minutes of work. For good measure, Howard snagged five rebounds.

Emily Waters contributed 16 points and eight boards. Melyk Taouil connected for 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals in 33 minutes of work. Marissa Bruce dished out a game-high eight assists to go along with six rebounds.

The Jaguars held a 3-2 edge at the 7:25 mark of the first period, but it was the only time they would lead the rest of the way. Miller's team took a 14-10 lead heading into the second frame off of two free throws from Waters with 41 seconds to play in the stanza.

Although Augusta tied the game at 16-16, USC Aiken broke open the contest late. The team outscored the visitors 10-4 over the final 4:07, including Taouil's deep three-point shot off the glass as time expired, giving the home team a 34-23 advantage at the break.

The Jaguars pulled within eight 22 seconds into the third frame, but Miller's squad quickly countered, pushing it to double figures on Star Toomey's jumper off a pass from Taouil. The Pacers extended the margin to 14 on two occasions and maintained a 46-33 lead heading into the fourth.

USC Aiken rattled off seven straight points to start the final quarter en route to a 53-33 advantage. Augusta pulled within 15 with 3:28 left, but Howard was uncanny, firing in shots from 23-plus feet out en route to the 72-52 win.

For the game, USC Aiken connected on 25-of-56 shots from the floor (44.6 percent) while holding the Jaguars to 19-of-59 (32.2 percent). Miller's team outscored the visitors 30-20 in the paint, held a 12-7 margin in fast break points and 38-21 in points off the bench.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they travel to Young Harris for a 1:30 p.m., game. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.