SAVANNAH, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 60-58 decision at Armstrong Saturday evening in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers are now 9-17 overall, including a 7-10 mark in the Peach Belt Conference.

Courtney Mealing led USC Aiken with a team-high 15 points. Amaura Brandt and Porsha Martin each contributed 10 points while Mackenzie Reese added nine points. Brandt and Reese shared team-high honors with seven rebounds apiece.

The Pacers pushed the East Division leaders the entire contest – and came up just short of the win against the Pirates for the second time this season.

Head coach Mike Brandt's team out-rebounded the opposition 39-33, including a 16-13 mark on the offensive glass. Each team registered six steals while the Pacers drained 40 percent of their shots. The team limited the home squad to 37 percent.

Both teams hit five three-point buckets, but the difference in the game was at the foul line as Armstrong netted 15 points on 19 attempts. USC Aiken got to the charity stripe just six times, hitting five.

The entire contest was a back-and-forth affair and the Pacers snagged their last lead of the game on a lay-up by Reese with 5:55 to go. The Pirates embarked on a 7-0 run over the next 2:54, but Brandt's team fought to get back into the game.

Trailing 57-52 with 51 seconds remaining, Reese hit a lay-up, slicing the deficit to just three. However, a foul allowed Armstrong to sink two charity tosses. With just 25 ticks left, Brandt hit a jumper and the Pacers quickly called time.

The Pirates hit a free throw, but Mealing's jumper with just over a second remaining trimmed the deficit to two. A turnover by Armstrong allowed one final chance for USC Aiken. However, the Pirates were able to block Mealing's attempt at the buzzer, securing the final score.

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