AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 70-52 contest to Lenoir-Rhyne in the season opener.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Jentri Worley's 12 points and three assists.

Emily Trushel and Hailey Unger netted 11 points apiece. Emily Trushel snagged four rebounds in the game.

Breanna Gustave registered five points and three boards in the loss. Rhiannon Saller also accounted for five points.

Trailing by 11 early in the second quarter, head coach Mark Miller's team cut it to seven after a pair of free throws from Emily Trushel. Moments later, Unger's three-point bucket trimmed the deficit to five, 21-16.

A pair of charity tosses from Worley with 4:01 to play before half to make it 21-18. However, the Bears managed to hold a 31-18 lead at the break.

Despite playing tough in the final 20 minutes of play, USC Aiken was unable to slice the deficit to single digits the rest of the way.

For the game USC Aiken hit 20-of-56 from the floor (35.7 percent). The squad buried 11-of-15 from the charity stripe (66.7 percent). The team snagged 38 rebounds in the contest.

Millers' team dished out assists on half of the made field goals. The Pacers registered eight second-chance points. USC Aiken held a 32-30 edge in the paint.  

The Pacers return to action tomorrow at 3 p.m., against No. 9 Carson-Newman.