AIKEN -- The Sand Sharks scored just three points in the second quarter and the USC Aiken Pacers took advantage, taking a commanding lead and winning its first game against USCB 70-57 Monday night in Aiken.
Janiyah Heyward led Beaufort in scoring with 13 points while Brielle Bartelt added 11 and both Taniyah Bowman and Shaniya Rose posted 10 points each.
USCB used a 9-2 run to begin the contest forcing the Pacers to burn a timeout. Heyward got things started with a three-pointer and Bowman made it a seven-point lead after Bowman finished off the old fashioned three-point play, converting the and-one and the free throw. Aiken went on a 6-2 run for nearly two minutes and cut the lead to a single possession with the score 16-14.
USCA tied the game on the first possession of quarter number two and then took the lead after Rhiannon Saller scored her 10th point of the game. Aiken scored six more points and kept the Sand Sharks off the scoreboard until Bowman split at the free throw line with under five to play in the half. Beaufort would score just once more and went into the break down 14.
The Sand Sharks scored the first bucket of the half, but the Pacers countered with a three-ball, extending its lead to 15. Brianna Pelote's spin move finish while also drawing the foul and making the and one cut the lead to single digits. Aiken maintained the lead three score lead throughout the third quarter. Riley Simmons hit a triple with under a minute to play and it was a 55-43 Pacer lead heading into the final quarter of regulation.
The rivals won't have to wait long to face each other again as the Pacers make the return trip to the Lowcountry on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
