MORROW, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team posted a hard fought 69-66 victory at Clayton State Wednesday evening.

The Pacers improve to 15-9 on the season and 11-4 against Peach Belt Conference competition. The Lakers are now 14-10 on the year and 8-7 against league foes.

Senior Mackenzie Reese poured in a game-high 16 points while also contributing seven rebounds and a game-best seven assists. For good measure, Reese registered a pair of thefts.

She led four USC Aiken student-athletes in double figures as Kate Duff came off the bench to hit for 15 points on seven-of-11 shooting. Emry Tsitouris narrowly missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds while Carly Gilreath hit for 11 points. Kassy Johannsen added eight points.

For the game, the Pacers canned 29-of-53 shots from the floor (54.7 percent), including six-of-12 from downtown (50 percent). The team distributed 24 assists on 29 baskets and edged the home team four-to-three in the blocks category.

USC Aiken trailed 11-4 just 4:06 into the game, but Reese netted five straight points off a pair of assists from Tsitouris, making it an 11-9 contest. Duff's lay-up with 10:24 to go knotted the game at 14 and Johannsen's jumper gave the Pacers a two-point edge.

Amaura Brandt's three-point basket gave USC Aiken a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way. Leading by two, Tsitouris hit a free throw and Reese took a pass from Brandt for an easy lay-up and 22-17 advantage. Although the Lakers pulled within two, USC Aiken managed to extend the margin to seven at the break off a straight-away three-point bucket from Gilreath with 31 seconds remaining in the half.

Leading 32-30, Tsitouris canned a jumper that sparked an 8-0 spurt for the visitors. Johannsen connected on a jumper of her own before Tsitouris and Duff made back-to-back shots for the 10-point lead.

Brandt's team held a 45-38 lead with 12:55 to play, but quickly increased its advantage. Gilreath nailed a three-pointer prior to Johannsen taking a pass from Jasmine Coach for a lay-up. Reese hit a pair of charity tosses before Gilreath and Duff each scored from the field, pushing the margin to 18.  

Duff's three-point shot gave the Pacers a 21-point lead with just 8:58 to go. However, the Lakers slowly whittled away USC Aiken's lead until it became a one-possession contest at 67-64 with 1:15 to play.

The Pacers missed a jumper, but Duff took a charge. USC Aiken managed to break the press and Reese found Tsitouris for a lay-up with 15 ticks on the clock for the final tally.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host GRU Augusta at 5:30 p.m. The game has been designated a "Pink Zone" game in addition to Senior Night for Mackenzie Reese and Emily O'Rourke.