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University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

WBB_112324
71
WSSU WSSU 1-5
73
Winner USCA USCA 2-4
WSSU WSSU
1-5
71
Final
73
USCA USCA
2-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
WSSU WSSU 11 17 21 22 71
USCA USCA 18 18 13 24 73

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Baker’s Game-Winning Shot Sends USCA Past WSSU

AIKEN, S.C. – Serena Baker hit a last second shot as the USCA women's basketball team posted a 73-71 win over Winston-Salem State Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 2-4 on the season.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Rhiannon Saller's team-high 17 points to go along with five boards, three assists and two steals. Paris Webster totaled 12 points and five assists while Riley Simmons notched a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Baker reached double figures with the game-winning shot as she totaled 11 points. Sami Bardonaro chipped in nine points and eight rebounds while Destiny Harman contributed seven points and five assists.

USCA jumped out to an 14-0 lead just 3:58 into the game. Bardonaro started the scoring with a three-ball and Kendall Parker followed suit with another shot from distance. A bucket from Bardonaro and another three-point bucket from Simmons gave the home team an 11-point margin. Morgan McDermott connected from behind the three-point stripe off a pass from Simmons for a 14-0 advantage. WSSU cut the margin to seven with a shot just before the end of the period, making it 18-11.

The Rams pulled within two at 26-24 before the Pacers scored 10 of the final 14 points of the half. Baker hit two free throws at the 3:17 mark. She followed it up with a jumper and two more charity tosses before Simmons buried a shot, extending the margin to 10, 34-24. With 39 ticks on the clock, Bardonaro canned two free throws. The visitors hit a shot with 22 seconds before intermission to make it 36-26 at the break.

WSSU managed to take a 45-43 lead with 1:49 to play but Webster found Saller for a jumper in the lane. With 57 ticks on the clock in the third frame, Webster nailed a pair of free throws. Down 49-47 with time running out in the frame, Webster drove the lane. She put a shot up with one second left and was fouled. Webster hit both charity tosses, sending the game to the fourth quarter tied at 49-49.

The back-and-forth final stanza saw WSSU overcome a seven-point deficit with 5:43 to go, tying the game at 60-60. Trailing 64-60, Harman hit a three-ball. Down 68-65 with 1:28 to go, Parker found Saller for a jumper. On the ensuing possession, Harman connected with Saller for a bucket, giving the home team a 69-68 lead. Saller hit two free throws with 30 ticks to go, putting the home team up 71-68.

The Rams hit a free throw and corralled an offensive board. Another foul allowed the visitors to knot the score at 71-71. After a time-out, Webster got the ball to Baker for the game-winning shot as time expired.

For the game, USCA hit 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) from the floor, including six-of-14 (42.9 percent) from downtown. Miller's team held a 41-39 edge on the glass.

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they play at Barton at 5 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
 


 
 
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