JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team opened the season with a loss to No. 3 Carson-Newman by a score of 94-68.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Sade Johnson's 11 points on four-of-eight shooting in 21 minutes of work. Kyrie' Chandler netted 10 points while Kwajelin Farrar returned to the court and hit for nine points and four rebounds in limited action.

Melyk Taouil added eight points and a team-best eight rebounds while Madeline Sexton and Janae' Simpson had seven apiece. Star Toomey contributed five points and six boards.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 24-of-67 (35.8 percent), including five-of-26 (19.2 percent) from downtown. The squad got to the line 23 times and connected on 15 attempts (65.2 percent).

Miller's squad held a 17-15 advantage in second-chance points.

Trailing 24-13 entering the second period, USC Aiken fell behind by 11 before slicing the deficit to five. Down 30-19, Johnson took a pass from Chandler and hit a runner in the paint. Sexton stole a pass and found Taouil for a lay-up. Moments later, Taouil hit one-of-two-from the stripe, making it 32-26.

After the Eagles pushed the lead to nine at 36-27, Grace Crawford hit a free throw and Chandler buried a three-ball, slicing the deficit to five at 36-31. The teams traded baskets, but five points was as close as USC Aiken would get the rest of the way.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they square off against Lenoir-Rhyne in a neutral-site affair at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.