MORROW, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 75-68 decision at Clayton State Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 0-3 on the year, including an 0-2 record in league play. The Lakers stand at 3-1 overall and 3-1 against conference foes.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Delaney Trushel's game-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting. She canned four-of-six from the three-point stripe. Emily Trushel contributed 13 points and five boards in the loss. Rikoya Anderson tallied 10 markers and six boards.

Chesney Gardner and Grace Crawford chipped in eight and seven points, respectively. Madison Williams dished out a game-high six assists. She also contributed a pair of steals.

USC Aiken trailed 21-12 near the end of the first stanza but Williams found Anderson for a three-ball, pulling the visitors within six entering the second quarter.

Williams connected with Delaney Trushel for a jumper to start the second period. Down 22-17, Chidinma Okafor saw Crawford, who buried a shot, pulling the team within three at 22-19. Gardner took a pass from Emily Trushel for a lay-up, making it a 22-21 game with 7:00 to play before intermission. USC Aiken trailed 33-26 at halftime.

Miller's team made it a five-point contest at 35-30 when Williams drained a jumper at the 8:27 mark of the third quarter. Trailing by eight, Crawford nailed a three-point shot with 6:03 to go in the stanza, but that was as close as the team would get the rest of the way.

Down by 19 early in the fourth frame, USC Aiken battled back. Delaney Trushel hit a three-point shot while Anderson connected on a three-point play. A lay-up by Delaney Trushel made it a 60-49 game with 7:00 to play.

The Lakers extended their lead to 21, but Miller's team was relentless. Anderson hit two free throws with 1:33 to play, making it a 16-point game. Delaney Trushel hit a three-ball as did Gardner, pulling the team within 10 with 33 ticks on the clock. After a block from Gardner, Delaney Trushel nailed a shot from midcourt for the final score.  

For the game, USC Aiken hit 26-of-60 from the floor (43.3 percent), including 10-of-28 from distance (35.7 percent). The squad buried all six free throw attempts. 

The Pacers return to action Monday when they host North Georgia at 5:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.