AIKEN, S.C. – No. 15 USC Aiken used an aggressive first half to overpower the visiting UNCP women's basketball team, 58-44, on Saturday evening in Peach Belt Conference action as the Lady Pacers split the series this season with the Lady Braves.

UNCP (11-11, 8-6 PBC) was held to 15 points in the first half, while USC Aiken (19-3, 12-2) nearly doubled UNCP's scoring with 29 points. The Lady Braves posted the first point of the game at the 19:18 mark, but were held scoreless until 15:32 remained in the half when senior Domonique Washington posted a three-point play. The Lady Pacers proceeded on a 15-point run to take a 14-point lead at the 5:41 mark.

Kamile Horne snapped the nearly 10 minute dry streak with a 3-pointer, but the Lady Pacers proved too much as the squad capitalized by draining 10 points on the nine UNCP turnovers. UNCP and USC Aiken each posted 29 points in the second half and despite the effort of the Black and Gold to halt the progress of the Lady Pacers, the damage from the first half sealed the fate of the game.

Freshman Jazmine Kemp posted a team-best 14 points and shared a game-high three steals with Washington. DeDe Cotten slapped down three blocks, while Jasmine Hairston pulled down six rebounds. UNCP shot 80.0 percent from the charity stripe as Kemp, Cotten and Hairston were perfect from the foul line. The Black and Gold totaled only two shots from behind the arc and was 31.3 percent from the field.

USC Aiken had three players with double figures in scoring as Lindsay Sundberg led the team with 17 points. Daniela Tarailo almost collected a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Kayla Harris added 13 points. The Lady Pacers shot 36.1 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from behind the 3-point line, but suffered in free throw shooting as the squad was 7-of-17 from the line. 

The Lady Braves will return home for a three-game streak in the English E. Jones Center on February 15 when the squad hosts Francis Marion (8-14, 3-11) in a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. Admission prices are $5 for adults and $2 for children 18 years of age and younger. UNCP students are admitted free with a valid Braves Card.