ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team posted a 68-53 victory at Claflin Monday evening.
The Pacers are now 3-3 on the season while Claflin falls to 1-5.
Emily Trushel erupted for a game-high 21 points on eight-of-13 shooting, including five-of-nine from the three-point stripe. She also added a game-high five assists.
Jentri Worley added 16 points, five rebounds and a game-high five assists.
Chidinma Okafor accounted for 10 points and five rebounds.
Allycia Harris posted eight points and nine rebounds in the win.
Head coach
Mark Miller's team jumped out to a 20-5 lead after the first quarter. The five points allowed marked the fourth-fewest points allowed in a quarter and the second-fewest points allowed in the first quarter in school history.
Just 5:35 into the game, USC Aiken held a 14-1 advantage after a jumper by
Emily Trushel. Leading 17-3, Worley drained a three-point shot for a 20-3 lead en route to the 15-point advantage.
Claflin pulled within nine at 22-13 but
Emily Trushel recorded a steal and bucket to extend the lead to double digits. Up 24-15, Harris and
Grace Crawford netted the next five points for a 14-point margin. Miller's team extended the lead to 16 at 34-18 after
Emily Trushel found Okafor for a lay-up at the 4:34 mark. USC Aiken held a 36-23 lead at the half.
Up 43-30, Harris canned a shot. Worley found
Emily Trushel for a three-point bucket and a moment later Worley canned a pass from Crawford for a 51-32 working margin with 3:04 to play in the third quarter. A Harris basket gave Miller's team a 21-point lead at 53-32, marking the largest lead of the game for the visitors.
USC Aiken never let the home squad cut the margin to single digits the rest of the way.
For the game, the Pacers hit 27-of-58 from the floor (46.6 percent), including 11-of-22 from the three-point stripe (50.0 percent). Miller's team held a 45-38 edge on the glass. The squad dished out 18 assists on 27 baskets. Nine offensive rebounds resulted in 14 second-chance points for the victors.
USC Aiken limited the home team to 19-of-67 from the floor (28.4 percent).
The Pacers return to action Wednesday, Dec. 1, when they travel to St. Augustine's for a 5:30 p.m. contest. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
