AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team used a last-second shot from Jentri Worley to knock off Clayton State 71-70 in the PBC opener.

The Pacers are now 5-3 on the season, including 1-0 in league play. The Lakers fall to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the PBC.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by paced by Emily Trushel's game-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds in the victory. Breanna Gustave added 18 points, eight rebounds and five steals while Worley totaled 12 points, five rebounds and a game-high three assists. Kelsie Woodard chipped in eight points to go along with a game-high nine boards in her first collegiate action. 

USC Aiken jumped out to a 10-5 lead after a steal from Delaney Trushel. Gustave converted it into a bucket off an assist from Worley. Leading 12-11, Emily Trushel buried a three-ball. Delaney Trushel canned one from distance for a seven-point edge, 18-11. The Pacers would lead 22-14 on a lay-up from Gustave before ending the first period with a 22-16 advantage. 

Tied at 30-30 in the second frame, Worley buried a pair of free throws. With 1:24 to play before halftime, Woodard nailed a pair of charity tosses. Up 34-32, Worley drained a jumper en route to the 36-34 lead at intermission.

The back-and-forth third stanza saw the visitors take a 54-53 lead with 28 ticks on the clock. With one second left in the period, the Lakers were whistled for a technical foul. Emily Trushel sank both attempts for a 55-54 edge going into the fourth quarter.

USC Aiken held a 64-61 lead with 3:30 to play before Clayton State embarked on a 6-0 run for a three-point edge at the 1:01 mark. 

Down 69-66, Woodard connected on a lay-up. With seven seconds to play, USC Aiken committed a foul. Taniya Patrick missed the first one but hit the second shot. With one second left, Worley squared up two feet inside the halfcourt stripe and drilled the three-point bucket for the game-winner.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 21-of-61 from the floor, including six-of-15 from downtown. The team drained 23-of-32 from the charity stripe. USC Aiken secured 19 second-chance points and registered 27 points off turnovers. 

The Pacers return to action Monday when they play at Georgia Southwestern at 5:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.