AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA women's basketball team lost a 57-41 decision to Emmanuel Wednesday evening in the home opener.

The Pacers are now 0-3 on the season while the Lions improve to 1-2.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Kendall Parker's team-high 10 points. She also snagged seven rebounds. Rhiannon Saller added eight points and nine rebounds to go along with three assists. Sami Bardonaro tallied seven points while Destiny Harman chipped in five.

Parker drained a three-ball to start the scoring. Harman found Paris Webster for a shot from downtown to make it 6-3. Trailing 10-6, Gracie Huffard and Harman hit back-to-back jumpers, knotting the score at 10-10 at the 3:35 mark of the first quarter.

Down 17-11, Parker took a pass from Webster and drilled a jumper from the wing on a break. A three-ball from Jaya Nelson pulled the Pacers within one at 17-16 at the 7:27 mark of the second frame. Trailing 19-16, Saller buried a shot in the lane. An old-fashioned three-point play from Saller with 34 ticks remaining in the half gave USCA a 21-19 edge at intermission. Miller's team held the visitors scoreless for the final 6:39 of the half.

Trailing 32-23, Bardonaro took a pass from Saller and quickly buried a three-point bucket. Moments later, Parker's shot from distance made it 34-29. The visitors hit a jumper with 1:29 to play in the third quarter for a 40-32 lead.

Emmanuel extended the advantage to 18 near the midway point of the final frame, but USCA continued to battle. Harman hit a three-point bucket and Makaylei Snyder later hit a jumper. However, the home team could not get any closer than 14 the rest of the way. 

For the game, USCA hit 15-of-58 from the floor (25.9 percent), including seven-of-28 from downtown (25.0 percent). Miller's team forced 12 turnovers and converted the miscues into eight points.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play at Tusculum at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.