Aiken, S.C.----USC Aiken junior guard/forward Alexis Ware (Panama City, Fla.) had 15 of her game-high 18 points after halftime, rallying the Pacers to a 62-56 victory over Wingate University at the Convocation Center Wednesday night. Ware hit five-of-nine three-point field goals for the hosts.
 
Sophomore forward Emry Tsitouris (Monroe, N.C.) added 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds for USC Aiken (2-1 overall). For Wingate, junior guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) had 13 points, while senior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) and junior guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) contributed 12 points each. McGee led the visitors with nine boards. The Bulldogs (0-1 overall) were playing their season opener Wednesday.

"USC Aiken is a good basketball team," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "They play extremely hard and are well coached. I think we learned a lot tonight about offensive and defensive execution as well as time-score situations."
 
USC Aiken took its first lead since 4-2 when Ware nailed a triple with 3:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, making the score 52-51 Pacers. Wingate answered, as McGee converted a power move to give the Bulldogs their final lead at 53-52.
 
On the ensuing possession, USCA senior guard Stephanie Ball (Fort Pierce, Fla.) hit a three-pointer with 2:05 to go. Tsitouris hit a lay-up (1:05) and Ball made two free throws (0:37) to push the hosts' margin to 59-53. After a quick WU time-out, Tricoli hit a three-pointer (0:33) to make it a one-possession game.
 
Ball made one-of-two free throws on the next trip down the court, but Aiken got the rebound on the missed second shot. The Pacers made only three-of-eight free throws in the final half minute, but it was enough to clinch the victory.
 
Wingate shot only 27.6 percent in the second half (eight-of-29), while USC Aiken made 50 percent of its tries (12-of-24). The Pacers hit six-of-12 three-point field goals after halftime. For the game, USCA shot 40.4 percent (19-of-47). Wingate shot 34.6 percent (18-of-52).
 
The USC Aiken bench outscored the Wingate reserves 22-10, thanks to nine points from junior guard/forward Rachelle Aupont (Orlando, Fla.) and eight markers from freshman forward Baylea Loven (Marshall, N.C.). The two teams combined for 32 turnovers (17 for Wingate, 15 for Aiken). The Bulldogs held a slim 15-14 edge in points off turnovers.
 
In the first half, Wingate took a 13-point lead when freshman guard Danashia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) nailed a jumper to make the score 21-8 with 9:12 remaining in the second quarter. The Bulldogs took their biggest lead (of the evening) on a Tricoli triple at the 6:23 mark, making the score 24-10.
 
The Bulldogs kept the Pacers at bay, taking a 28-17 margin on a three-point field goal by junior guard Taylor Walker (Trinity, N.C.) at the 2:55 mark. Two Tomlinson free throws settled the halftime margin to give Wingate a 30-20 edge at intermission.
 
Wingate shot 43.5 percent in the first half (10-of-23), while hitting four-of-eight from downtown. USC Aiken managed only 30.4 percent accuracy (seven-of-23) with three-of-11 shooting from behind the three-point line. Tomlinson led the Bulldogs with eight first-half points, while Tsitouris topped the Pacers' charts with six points.

"We have so much youth at key positions, it will take being in these types of games for our players to gain the needed experience," Hancock says. "I was pleased with our effort on the glass and on the defensive end. We will get back to work and get ready for Lenoir-Rhyne."
 
Wingate begins South Atlantic Conference play Tuesday, venturing to Lenoir-Rhyne for a 4 p.m. afternoon matinee. This marks the second year in a row the Bulldogs and the Bears have played in Hickory on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. USC Aiken is back in action Saturday, hosting Queens University of Charlotte at 1:30 p.m.