WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team lost a 54-45 decision at Winston-Salem State Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 1-3 on the year.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Marta Rivera's eight points. Jaya Nelson added seven points while Hailey Unger and Sami Bardonaro chipped in six points apiece.

Annalise Malone accounted for four points and four rebounds. Kelsie Woodard chipped in four points while Destiny Harman and Paris Webster added three apiece. Alivia Hikel and Rhiannon Saller netted two points each. Saller snagged 10 boards in the contest. 

Trailing 48-33 heading into the fourth quarter, the teams traded buckets in the early going. Down 52-35, Hikel hit a pair of charity tosses with 5:09 to go. With just over four minutes to play, Bardonaro found Saller for a jumper.

Down 54-39, Unger drilled a three-point shot with 3:02 remaining. A shot from distance by Webster trimmed the deficit to nine with 1:56 to play but USC Aiken could not get any closer the rest of the way.   

For the game, Miller's team hit 16-of-51 from the floor (31.4 percent), including an eight-of-21 effort from downtown (38.1 percent). USC Aiken tallied 17 points off 24 miscues by the home team.  

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