GREENWOOD, S.C. - The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 71-58 decision at Lander Saturday in a match-up between the two East Division leaders.

The Pacers are now 14-9 on the season and fall to 10-4 against league competition. The Bearcats are now 19-4 overall and 12-2 against PBC foes.

Mackenzie Reese led the way for head coach Mike Brandt's team with a season-high tying 18 points. She was seven-of-12 from the floor, including a four-of-five effort from behind the three-point stripe. Carly Gilreath tied her career high with 12 points while Amaura Brandt posted 11 points to go along with eight rebounds. Rookie Emry Tsitouris narrowly missed a double-double for the second straight game after notching nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

For the game, USC Aiken connected on 21-of-55 shots from the floor (38.2 percent) while the Bearcats hit on 21-of-54 (38.9 percent). The Pacers canned nine three-point baskets compared to six by the home team. Brandt's team held a 39-36 advantage on the glass, but committed 25 turnovers compared to 16 by Lander.

The Pacers trailed 9-0 at the start, but sliced the deficit to just four when Gilreath buried a jumper off a pass from Tsitouris at the 13:56 mark. Reese's three-point basket trimmed the margin to four at 11-7.

With 5:41 to go, Tsitouris connected on an old-fashioned three-point play, making it 20-17. However, the home team went on an 18-4 run before a deep shot by Brandt quelled the run for a 38-24 at the break.

Brandt's team started the second half on an 8-2 spurt, trimming the margin to eight on a three-point basket by Gilreath. The Bearcats pushed the lead back to double digits before Gilreath and Brandt netted five straight points, making the contest 50-43 with 9:42 to play. However, that was as close as USC Aiken would get the rest of the way.  

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they travel to Clayton State for a 5:30 p.m., contest.