PEMBROKE, N.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team netted a 57-55 victory at UNC Pembroke Wednesday night in a Peach Belt Conference clash.

The Pacers improve to 9-13 overall and 4-9 against conference competition. The Braves fall to 8-12 on the year and 3-10 against league foes.

Stephanie Ball led head coach Mike Brandt's team with a game-high 16 points. She also added four boards and three assists. Kassy Johannsen narrowly missed a double-double performance with 14 points and a team-best nine rebounds. Mariah Durian came off the bench to net 11 points, including nine in the second half.

Aubrey Lukacsko totaled seven points while Carly Gilreath dished out a team-high four assists. Jasmine Coach pulled down nine rebounds. Johannsen registered the Pacers' lone block of the game.

Brandt's squad started the game off strong, taking a 5-2 lead behind five straight points from Lukacsko. However, the Braves battled back to take an 8-5 lead. Ball canned a three-pointer and thanks to a pair of points from Katelyn Grisillo and a three-pointer from Gilreath off a pass from Kate Duff, USC Aiken maintained a 13-10 advantage heading into the second quarter.

The Pacers extended the margin to 21-10 at the 6:50 mark of the second period. Coach buried a jumper and Ball hit back-to-back three-pointers for the 11-point lead. USC Aiken pushed its margin to 14 on a pair of Ball free throws at the 4:25 mark, making it 30-16. The Pacers, however, were unable to score the rest of the half while the home squad pulled within five, 30-25, at the break.

The Braves took a 43-38 lead with 1:13 to play in the third quarter, but a three-pointer by Durian and a lay-up by Lukacsko pulled the team even at 43-43. UNC Pembroke hit a three-ball just prior to the buzzer, taking a 46-43 lead into the fourth frame.

Trailing by seven, Brandt's team cut into the lead when Durian nailed a jumper off a pass from Alexis Ware with 7:31 to go in the game. USC Aiken was still fighting from behind as Johannsen hit a lay-up, pulling the team within two at 53-51 at the 2:39 mark.

Although the Braves extended their lead to four at 55-51, Johannsen took a pass from Durian for a lay-up with 2:01 to play. Fifty-one seconds later, Coach found Johannsen for another jumper, knotting the contest at 55-55.

Brandt's team forced a misfire on the Braves' ensuing possession and Johannsen corralled the rebound. With eight seconds to go on the shot clock, Gilreath connected with Johannsen for what turned out to be the game-winning basket by Johannsen.

UNC Pembroke had a chance to tie the contest in the waning seconds, but the team missed a pair of shots before Johannsen snagged the defensive board to close out the win for the Pacers. 

USC Aiken hit 22-of-57 from the floor (38.6 percent) while limiting the home team to 34 percent. The Pacers were a perfect six-of-six from the charity stripe. 

Brandt's team dished out 18 assists on the 22 field goals. The squad forced 16 turnovers, converting the miscues into 12 points. The Pacers held a slim 18-14 advantage in the paint. USC Aiken's bench outscored the home team 16-8.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host Lander for Homecoming. Game-time is set for 5:30 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available at PacerSports.com.