AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team fought off a late comeback bid by Young Harris Saturday afternoon, picking up a 53-46 win.

The Pacers are now 7-8 overall and 3-4 in PBC play. The Mountain Lions drop to 11-6 overall and 3-5 against league foes.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Jentri Worley's game-high 16 points. She added four assists, four rebounds and three steals. Allycia Harris added 12 points, six boards and two thefts while Chidinma Okafor tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.

USC Aiken jumped out to an 8-3 lead on a jumper in the lane from Trushel with 4:35 to go in the first quarter. Leading 8-6, Trushel found Yasmine Fairchild for an inside shot. With the score tied at 10-10 in the waning seconds of the first quarter, Worley found Grace Crawford for a three-ball from 22 feet out for a 13-10 advantage.

The Pacers extended the margin to 18-10 just 1:38 into the second stanza when Trushel found Okafor for a jumper. YHC pulled within five on a pair of occasions, but Miller's team responded each time. Leading 20-15, Madison Williams connected with Worley for a three-point bucket at the 2:15 mark. Leading 23-17 with time running out in the half, the dyad connected again. Williams found Worley on a cross-court pass and she drained the shot from distance as time expired for a 26-17 lead at the break.

USC Aiken extended the advantage to 13 when Trushel found Okafor for a bucket at the 7:58 mark. Moments later, Harris hit two free throws, making it 36-22. However, the Mountain Lions closed the gap to five at the end of the frame.

Young Harris would continue to claw back into the game. After USC Aiken pushed the score to 44-35 on Okafor's basket, the visitors got within two at 48-46 with 2:38 on the clock.

YHC continued to foul, putting the Pacers on the charity stripe. Trushel hit a pair and Worley made one-of-two, making it 51-46 with 28 ticks on the clock. A Williams steal and subsequent foul sent her to the line. She hammered home both attempts for the seven-point victory.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 19-of-43 from the floor (44.2 percent), including four-of-nine from downtown (44.4 percent). The squad out-rebounded the visitors 42-32. USC Aiken held a 26-22 edge in the paint. The 10 offensive rebounds led to 10 second-chance points.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they travel to Augusta at 5:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.