AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 66-49 contest to North Georgia Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 3-9 overall and 0-5 in league play while the Nighthawks improve to 10-2 overall and 5-1 against conference competition.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was paced by Lonesha Lee's team-best 15 points. She also snagged five rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench. Emily Waters contributed 10 markers and four rebounds. 

Allenia Ponder was solid on the defensive front, registering six steals in 13 minutes. 

Kyrie' Chandler contributed seven points and four boards while Melyk Taouil chipped in six points.

After falling behind 21-7 at the end of the first quarter, Miller's squad outscored the visitors 14-13 over the next 10 minutes of action.

Ponder started things off with a steal and lay-up nine seconds into the second quarter. Lee registered a steal and on the possession, Waters buried a short jumper to make it 21-11.

Trailing 34-16, Lee canned a deep three-ball with 1:44 to play in the half. Strong defense by USC Aiken held the visitors scoreless the rest of the period and Waters connected on a jumper in the paint with eight seconds to go, making it 34-21 at the break.

In the second half, UNG stretched its lead by four in the third quarter, but Miller's team continued its hard effort and played even with the visitors in the fourth stanza.

Lee's jumper with just over a minute remaining made it a 59-49 contest, but USC Aiken was forced to foul and the Nighthawks hit their free throws down the stretch.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 19-of-59 shots from the floor (32.2 percent), including six-of-24 from the three-point line (25 percent). The Pacers were out-rebounded 46-34. However, USC Aiken converted 20 turnovers into 14 points. Miller's squad also held a 10-6 edge in second chance points.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they travel to Flagler for a 5:30 p.m., contest. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.