AIKEN, SC--Erica Larsen hit a three-pointer seven seconds into overtime as the USC Aiken Lady Pacers (5-2) controlled the extra frame to post the 77-71 win over Mars Hill (2-4) on Friday night at “The Courthouse” in Aiken, S.C. The win exercised the program’s OT demons snapping a 12-game losing streak dating back to a February 11, 1995 win at Lander 78-74. Sarah Kendrick tied her career-high with 20 points.

Following Larsen’s triple off the opening tap in overtime, the Lady Pacers rebounded a Lady Lion miss and turned into a pair of free throws by Kendrick at 4:23 to push the advantage to 71-66. Kendrick hit her first 10 charity tosses in the game and finished 11-of-13 at the stripe. She added eight rebounds, five assists and three steals in 37 minutes.

Abby DeBusk converted one of two free throws with 2:44 to play to cut the margin back to 71-67, but 3-of-4 shooting at the line over the next two minutes extended the USCA lead to 74-67. The Lady Lions finished 2-of-11 shooting from the field in the extra period with both buckets coming inside of 40 seconds to play.

After opening the game sluggish, missing 1-of-8 shots from the field and getting out rebounded 8-3, USC Aiken fell behind 10-2 with 17:11 left in the first following a Lindsay Jones bucket. Jones led all scorers with 21 points including 12 in the first half.

Katie Mitchell ended a near four-minute scoring drought for the Lady Pacers at 14:43 to cut the lead to 12-4 and spark a 9-0 run keyed by a Kendrick trey and a Lana Mandic put-back at 12:19. Kendrick had nine in the first half while Mandic scored all eight of her points in the first stanza.

A pair of Kendrick charity tosses at 8:46 gave USCA its first lead of the game 17-16, but Jones countered with a jumper 11 seconds later to push the Lady Lions back in front 18-17. Jones poured in two more at 6:28 to cap an 8-0 run and give Mars Hill a 24-17 lead. USCA rattled off 13 of the next 18 points including a three-pointer from freshman guard Gezel Virella to give USCA the lead 30-20 with 1:47 left until half.

Mars Hill out rebounded the Lady Pacers 20-18 and shot 56.5 percent compared to 32.4 percent for USCA in the first half. But the Lady Pacers were able to turn 15 Mars Hill miscues into 18 points and win the points off turnover battle 18-2.

For the game, Mars Hill shot 42.1 percent from the field, 20.0 percent from deep, and 76.9 percent at the stripe. The Lady Lions committed 29 turnovers. USCA shot 33.8 percent, 18.8 percent from downtown, and 80.0 percent at the stripe. The Lady Pacers out rebounded Mars Hill 48-42 including 22 offensive boards.

In the second half, Laura Snider drained a triple from right wing with 16:19 on the clock to knot the game up at 40-40. With USCA up two at 53-51, the Lady Lions went over three and one-half minutes without a field goal until Lindsay Roberts jumper at 6:56 cut the margin down to 59-55. Roberts finished with 11 points and six rebounds.

Holding a 66-62 lead with 3:11 to play in the second half, USCA missed its final three shots from the field as Jones’ two free throws with 2:17 to play tied it at 66-66 and forced the extra frame.

Mars Hill had the ball with 16.8 seconds to play and a chance to win in regulation, but Tiffany Atkins shot was off the mark and Kendrick rebounded the miss as time expired. Atkins finished with 13 points.

Larsen, who was 1-of-5 from the field in the first half, finished 6-of-14 for 14 points. Benazura Serbecic added 11 points and eight rebounds. Kasey Mills chipped in seven points, eight rebounds, and four of the Lady Pacers’ 16 steals. Mitchell added six, Virella five, Beata Szabo four, and Amy Ransom two points.

USC Aiken will host Carson-Newman tomorrow at 5:30 PM. Mars Hill returns home to host USC Spartanburg on Monday, December 8 at 7:00 PM.

SCORING:
Mars Hill (71): Lindsey Jones 21, Tiffany Atkins 13, Lindsay Roberts 11, Kristi Ferris 8, Abby DeBusk 7, Laura Snider 6, April Hatten 4, Crystal Davis 1

USC Aiken (77): Sarah Kendrick 20, Erica Larsen 14, Benazura Serbecic 11, Lana Mandic 8, Kasey Mills 7, Katie Mitchell 6, Gezel Virella 5, Beata Szabo 4, Amy Ransom 2

Boxscore

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