AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team dropped a 60-44 decision to No. 13 Limestone Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 4-5 on the season while the Saints improve to 8-1.

Head coach Mike Brandt's team was guided by rookie Emry Tsitouris and her 10 points. She also snagged a team-best eight rebounds in the contest while playing 21 minutes.

Amaura Brandt added nine points while Mariah Durian and Stephanie Ball tallied seven and six, respectively. Mackenzie Reese and Kassy Johannsen accounted for four and three points, respectively.

The Pacers did a solid job on the glass, out-rebounding the visitors 38-36. However, the squad connected on just 15-of-48 shots from the floor (31.2 percent), including a six-of-22 mark (27.3 percent) from behind the three-point stripe. The team also attempted just 15 charity tosses, canning eight (53.3 percent).

USC Aiken jumped out to an 11-5 lead on Ball's three-pointer with 15:14 to go. It marked the third deep shot for the Pacers in the opening minutes as Durian and Brandt each hit shots from the three-point stripe.

Leading by six, Brandt's team was unable to hit another field goal until 2:09 to go. During that time, the Pacers hit just two free throws while Limestone scored 24 points. Ball's three-pointer at the 2:09 mark made it 29-16.

Her shot also started a run for USC Aiken as Kate Duff buried a three-pointer and Tsitouris made an inside jumper, making it an eight-point game at 29-21 with just 14 seconds to play in the opening half.

Trailing by eight at the start of the second half, the Saints outscored the Pacers 14-2 over the first 6:31. Tsitouris' jumper sliced the deficit to 19 at 43-24, but Limestone managed to push the margin back to over 20 points.

Brandt's team would not give up. Continuing to play hard, the team trimmed the deficit to 16 with 6:22 to play on Brandt's three-pointer off a pass form Durian. It marked as close as the team would get the rest of the way as Alexis Ware's bucket with 1:21 remaining were the only points scored by either team in the last 3:26.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they host Georgia College in the Peach Belt Conference opener. Game-time is slated for 5:30 p.m.