MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 74-53 contest at Montevallo Saturday afternoon in a Peach Belt Conference game.

The Pacers are now 3-10 overall, including a 1-3 mark against league competition.

Leading the way for head coach Mike Brandt's team was Mackenzie Reese, who posted 19 points in addition to grabbing six rebounds.  Kate Duff came off the bench to hit for 10 points on four-of-eight shooting from the court. Courtney Mealing narrowly missed a double-double with her eight-point, nine-rebound performance. Mariah Durian chipped in eight markers off the bench.

USC Aiken was held to 20-of-53 shooting from the field (37.7 percent), including four-of-17 from downtown (23.5 percent). The Pacers hit just nine-of-19 from the charity stripe (47.4 percent).

Brandt's squad held a 38-36 advantage on the glass, including a 14-10 margin on the offensive boards.  

USC Aiken fell behind 3-0 after a three-pointer just 1:43 into the game, but Reese hit a lay-up to pull within one. After another basket by the Falcons, Reese canned two free throws, making it 5-4. The home team rattled off six straight points before Duff hit back-to-back shots, pulling the Pacers within three at 11-8. Montevallo slowly extended the lead to seven for a 30-23 advantage at the intermission.

Reese and Durian netted back-to-back buckets to open the second half, making the score 30-27 with 18:46 to play. A free throw by Mealing pulled the team within two at the 17-minute mark. The teams traded points for the next five minutes, but after a three-point shot by Durian at the 10:50 plateau, the home squad embarked on a 7-3 spurt and maintained a double-digit lead for much of the rest of the way.

However, Brandt's squad continued to fight hard, slicing the deficit to eight with 5:56 to go on a basket by Reese. After a three by the Falcons, Reese drained a mid-range jumper, making the score 58-49 with 5:17 to go.  

USC Aiken was outscored 16-4 the rest of the way as the team was unable to hit a field goal over the last 4:09.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday at Clayton State. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.