AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team played extremely well, but came up just short in the 71-65 loss to Columbus State in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers are now 5-6 on the season and 1-1 in league play with the Cougars remain undefeated at 12-0 overall, including a 3-0 mark against conference competition.

Leading the way for USC Aiken was Mackenzie Reese, who totaled 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kate Duff also netted 12 markers off the bench. Emry Tsitouris registered 11 points and a team-best 15 boards while Mariah Durian accounted for 11 points and seven rebounds.

For the game, the Pacers hit 24-of-66 shots from the floor (36.4 percent), including an eight-of-23 effort from downtown (34.8 percent). USC Aiken out-rebounded its opposition 46-44, including a 15-13 margin on the offensive glass. The Pacers dominated the paint, holding a 32-18 margin while also holding the advantage in points off turnovers (18-15), second-chance points (15-13), fast-break points (12-7) and points off the bench (29-14).

Head coach Mike Brandt's team came out strong, opening an eight-point lead with 11:31 to go in the first half when Durian drained a three-pointer off a pass from Brandt.

With the score tied at six, Kassy Johannsen sliced to the basket and Katelyn Grisillo found her for an easy score. After two free throws by the visitors, Duff gave the Pacers the lead by hitting a pair of charity tosses with 14:18 to play in the opening stanza. Duff followed it up with a deep three-pointer on the wing when Stephanie Ball found her for a five-point margin at 13-8.

USC Aiken extended the lead to nine at 19-10 when Carly Gilreath buried a three-pointer at the 9:58 mark. However, the Cougars slowly trimmed the deficit to two at 32-30 with 1:43 to play.

After Durian hit a pair of free throws, Columbus State registered a basket of their own with 12 seconds to play. Durian missed a jumper, but Brandt tracked down the rebound in the corner. Brandt turned and hammered home a three-pointer, but it was ruled to have come just after the buzzer. However, the Pacers led 34-32 at the break.

USC Aiken started the second half strong, jumping ahead by seven after Ball converted an old-fashioned three-point play and Tsitouris hit a lay-up with 16:22 to go. However, the Cougars netted seven straight points for a 47-44 advantage.

The Pacers trimmed the deficit to just one on Kate Duff's foul shot with 8:01 to play, but Columbus State extended the margin back to seven with 5:44 left in the contest.

Reese slipped past the defense for a basket and Brandt drilled a deep three, making it 64-62 with 4:51 to go. USC Aiken tied the contest at 64 apiece when Duff buried both charity tosses, but the Cougars answered with a basket at the 2:38 mark.

Tsitouris hit the first of two free throws, pulling the team within one at 66-65 with 2:20 to play, but Columbus State secured the rebound and scored the last five points of the contest for the win.

The Pacers return to action on Jan. 3, when they host Armstrong State at 5:30 p.m.