ANDERSON, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 62-39 decision at Anderson Thursday evening.

The Pacers are now 4-4 on the season. The Trojans improve to 3-0.

Head coach Mike Brandt's team was paced by Rachelle Aupont's 14 points and five rebounds. She also dished out a team-high three assists.

Stephanie Ball contributed 10 points and five rebounds. Mariah Durian snagged a team-best six rebounds in the contest.

The Pacers trailed 9-0 in the opening stanza before Ball buried a three-point shot off a pass from Durian with 2:49 on the clock. USC Aiken forced a pair of empty possessions by AU before Kassy Johanssen found Aupont for another three-ball, making it 9-6 with 42 seconds to play in the opening stanza.

Brandt's squad once again pulled within three with 6:33 to play in the second frame when Aupont nailed a three-pointer off a pass from Coach, but it was as close as the team would get as the Trojans embarked on an 11-0 run. The visitors pulled within seven with three seconds on the clock as Ball connected on a jumper, making the halftime score 26-19.

The Pacers would get no closer in the second half.

USC Aiken shot 14-of-56 from the floor, including seven-of-25 from downtown (28 percent).

Brandt's team tallied 23 points off the bench compared to 21 by the Trojans.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play at Johnson C. Smith at 3 p.m.