PEMBROKE, N.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost an 84-48 decision to national No. 5 Columbus State Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers fall to 18-12 on the season while the Cougars improve to 29-1.

Senior Mackenzie Reese led the way for head coach Mike Brandt's team with 12 points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Freshman Emry Tsitouris accounted for nine points and seven rebounds to go along with a pair of assists. Stephanie Ball added six points while Carly Gilreath and Emily O'Rourke each contributed four markers. Amaura Brandt contributed six boards and five steals.

USC Aiken connected on 13-of-63 shots from the floor (20.6 percent), including a two-for-21 effort from downtown (9.5 percent). The squad got to the charity stripe 37 times, but hit just 20 (54.1 percent).

The Pacers converted 21 turnovers into 16 points and held a 16-8 advantage in second-chance points. Brandt's team out-rebounded Columbus State 19-12 on the offensive glass. The squad also distributed 12 assists on the 13 made field goals.

USC Aiken trailed 17-0 before Reese took a pass from Gilreath for the first points of the game by the designated visitors. Fouled on the play, Reese calmly went to the line and drained the free throw for the old-fashioned three-point play.

Trailing by 19 in the early going, the Pacers sliced the deficit to 13 when Reese hit the first of two free throw attempts with 5:56 to go in the opening half. However, the Cougars answered with 12 unanswered points for a 40-15 advantage before Kate Duff's free throw stopped the scoring drought for USC Aiken.

The Pacers trailed 44-16 heading into the second period, but the squad continued to fight hard for the rest of the game.

Ten of the 11 student-athletes that entered the game for USC Aiken registered points. Duff and Jasmine Coach each connected for three points while Tiffany Addison chipped in a pair for the Pacers.