GREENWOOD – The USC Aiken Lady Pacers clinched the Peach Belt Conference's North Division and spoiled Lander's Homecoming with a 62-53 victory Saturday afternoon at Horne Arena.

Aiken improved to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in the Peach Belt. The Lady Bearcats fell to 15-12 and 9-7. The Lady Pacers beat Lander twice this season, including a 62-53 victory in Aiken on Feb. 10.

The Lady Pacers won with balanced scoring Saturday. Megan Starnes led them with 12 points while Mindy Allee added 11 points and a game-high five assists. Jordon Thomas led USC Aiken with nine rebounds.

Tiara Good led Lander with 19 points and 10 rebounds while April McClendon added 12 points. Stephanie Ponds added eight points and eight rebounds.

The Lady Bearcats struggled from the floor, making only four of 20 shots from 3-point range. Meanwhile, USC Aiken had a 43-33 rebounding edge.

Trailing 28-27 at halftime, USC Aiken took the lead early in the second half and built it to double figures when Meredith Legg hit a 3-pointer to make it 49-38 with 9:22 to go.

The Lady Pacers built their lead to 13 by scoring five points on one possession. Thomas scored inside and was fouled but missed the free throw. A teammate got the rebound and Satu Leppanen hit a 3-pointer to make it 54-41 at the 6:50 mark.

Lander scored six unanswered points including Good's two free throws that cut the deficit to 54-47. Good scored with a minute left to pull the Lady Bearcats within 60-53. But Allee hit two free throws with 55 seconds left for the game's final points.

Each team had a big run in the first half, starting with Lander's 13 unanswered points that turned a 13-11 deficit into a 24-13 lead. Bryony Crouch had two 3-pointers during the run, Good had a basket and 3-pointer, and Tierra Kirkland scored a basket to give the Lady Bearcats an 11-point lead.

But Lander scored only four points over the final seven-plus minutes of the first half. USC Aiken took full advantage, closing the half with a 14-4 run to pull within 28-27 at the break. Starnes and Avonte Williams scored four points apiece during the run.

Lander made 18 of 55 shots from the floor (38 percent) and 13 of 16 free throws (81 percent). Aiken hit 24 of 58 shots from the field (41 percent), five of 17 from behind the arc (29 percent) and nine of 14 free throws (64 percent).