AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team nearly rallied from a 20-point deficit, but came up just short in the 63-59 loss to unbeaten Florida Southern.

The Pacers are now 4-2 on the season while the Mocs improve to 7-0.

Emry Tsitouris guided USC Aiken with a squad-high 11 points. Mariah Durian came off the bench to rattle home 10 in the loss. Stephanie Ball dished out a game-best five assists and registered a game-high three steals.

Head coach Mike Brandt's team led 3-2 after a three-point play by Rachelle Aupont with 8:22 to go in the first quarter, but the visitors answered with a 10-0 spurt for a 12-3 advantage. From that point forward, the squads played nearly even in the quarter as the Pacers trailed 20-10 after the first stanza.

Durian drained a three-point bucket to open the scoring in the second period, but the seven-point deficit was as close as USC Aiken could get in the quarter. An 8-0 run by Florida Southern midway through the third quarter propelled the team to a 57-37 advantage with 1:46 to go in the frame, but the Pacers continued to fight hard. Four straight points by Tsitouris to close out the quarter pulled the squad within four at 57-41 heading into the fourth.

USC Aiken took command of the final period, using a smothering defense to limit the visitors to a mere six points.

The squads traded baskets in the opening minute, but the Pacers started their comeback with 6:30 to play when Carly Gilreath found Alexis Ware for a deep three-point bucket. Kassy Johannsen followed it up with a pair of free throws after being fouled after snagging a rebound.

After forcing a turnover, Johannsen converted a twisting lay-up off a pass from Ball, making it 59-50 with 4:52 to play.

Neither team managed to score for over a minute. Then, Tsitouris drove the lane and powered through being fouled for an old-fashioned three-point play. Durian's three-point shot off a pass from Ware made it 59-56 with 2:04 to go.

The visitors connected on one free throw at the 1:39 mark, but Katelyn Grisillo found Ball for a deep three-pointer, making it 60-59 with just 49 seconds to play. The Pacers committed a turnover and Florida Southern was fouled by Ball. The visitors made one-of-two and Johannsen grabbed the rebound.

After a time-out, USC Aiken turned it over and was forced to foul. A pair of free throws by Sydni Payne pushed the final score to 63-59. In the final quarter, Brandt's team outscored the Mocs 18-6.

For the game, USC Aiken connected on 21-of-56 from the floor, including a six-of-16 effort from downtown. Brandt's team canned 11-of-13 from the charity stripe. The Pacers forced 19 turnovers while committing 18. USC Aiken held a 9-0 advantage in second-chance points.

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they host Shaw Tuesday at 7 p.m. It marks the final home contest for USC Aiken in 2015.