ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Despite a double-double by Courtney Mealing and a career high by Kassy Johannsen, the University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team was unable to hold on to a second-half lead, falling by a 70-67 count at Flagler Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 5-14 overall, including a 3-7 effort against Peach Belt Conference foes.

Mealing registered 12 points and a game-high 10 assists in the loss. Mackenzie Reese nearly had a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, to go along with four assists. However, the big story for USC Aiken was Johannsen's career-high 15 points on a superb seven-of-eight effort from the field in 18 minutes of work off the bench. Johannsen added three rebounds, two blocks and an assist.

Porsha Martin snagged a team-high 11 rebounds while chipping in three assists and a steal. Amaura Brandt and Mariah Durian added nine and seven points, respectively.

The Pacers drained 28-of-65 shots from the floor (43.1 percent) and out-rebounded the Saints 40-38. However, the team committed 14 turnovers while only forcing 10.

After falling behind 6-0 just 2:23 into the contest, Brandt's team embarked on a 10-0 spurt. During the run, Reese and Martin made inside shots while Brandt and Mealing each connected on three-point attempts.

Leading 13-10, Johannsen sparked a 7-0 run. She made a lay-up off a pass from Kate Duff before Mealing found Martin for a jumper. Mealing then sliced through a pair of defenders, twisted and made a lay-up while being fouled. She then converted the free throw for the old-fashioned three-point play.

USC Aiken led 27-26 before recording a 9-2 run en route to a 40-35 halftime advantage.

The Pacers increased their lead to 17 with 11:38 to play in the game. With the score at 45-42 in favor of Brandt's squad, Reese took a pass from Mealing for an easy lay-up. She then connected on the next four points in the game before Johannsen's lay-up pushed the advantage to 52-42 with 13:03 to go.

Duff made a pair of free throws at the 12:33 mark. Alexis Ware and Johannsen each hit inside shots for a 59-42 margin, completing a 14-0 run by USC Aiken.

However, the Saints slowly got back into the game. With just 53 seconds left, the home squad hit a lay-up for a 68-67 advantage.

With 28 seconds to play, Martin missed a jumper but Mealing corralled the offensive rebound and was fouled.

Mealing missed both free throws and the Saints pulled down the board. Forced to foul, Flagler hit two free throws with 13 seconds on the clock.

Brandt's team had two chances to tie in the final seconds, but Durian and Reese each missed tough three-point shots that would have forced overtime.

The Pacers return home Saturday when they host GRU Augusta in a 5:30 p.m. contest.