AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team held off a pesky Emmanuel team Wednesday evening 69-62 in a non-conference game.

The Pacers are now 1-2 on the season while the Lions fall to 0-1.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Breanna Gustave and Jentri Worley as each netted 13 points. Worley also snagged seven boards in the win. 

Emily Trushel accounted for 12 points and seven rebound while Marta Rivera came off the bench to hit for 11 points and pull down eight rebounds.

Delaney Trushel hit for eight points and grabbed six rebounds while Annalise Malone registered a team-high nine boards in the victory.

USC Aiken jumped out to an 8-2 lead on a bucket from Gustave. The home team quickly extended the lead to 10 when Hailey Unger found Delaney Trushel for a three-point basket to make it 15-5 with 4:27 to play in the first quarter.

Moments later, Emily Trushel found Gustave for a shot from distance, pushing the score to 20-5. The Lions embarked on a 9-3 run to end the quarter, making it 23-14 heading into the second stanza.

The visitors trailed 29-20 before Gustave connected once again. A lay-up by Worley made it 33-20 at the 3:34 mark. Emmanuel cut the score to 10 but a pair of charity tosses from Worley with five seconds to go made it 40-27 at the break. 

Leading 48-46 heading into the fourth quarter, USC Aiken went toe-to-toe with the Lions in the tightly contested frame. 

Emmanuel took a 53-52 lead at the 5:12 mark but Miller's team quickly responded with a jumper from Rivera. USC Aiken would not trail the rest of the way.

Up 64-62 with 40 seconds to play, the home team rattled off the final five points for the seven-point victory.  

For the game, USC Aiken hit 25-of-63 from the floor (39.7 percent) and hit 15-of-18 from the charity stripe (83.3 percent). The team also held a 49-33 edge on the glass. 

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host Winston-Salem State at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.