BELMONT, N.C. – The USCA women's basketball team lost a 59-32 decision at Belmont Abbey Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 3-8 on the year while the Crusaders stand at 10-2.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Morgan McDermott and Kendall Parker as each scored six points. Destiny Harman added five points while Serena Baker and Rhiannon Saller chipped in four points apiece.

Gracie Huffard snagged a team-best five rebounds while Saller added four. Baker swatted two shots. Molly Burns had three steals while Harman and Sami Bardonaro added two steals apiece.

Down 2-0 in the early going, Parker tied the contest with a jumper at the 8:54 mark. Less than a minute later, Riley Simmons buried a three-point bucket for a 5-2 advantage. After an 8-0 spurt by the home team, Harman hit a free throw, slicing the deficit to four, 10-6. BAC maintained a 14-6 lead entering the second frame.

Trailing 20-6, Paris Webster found McDermott for a three-point bucket to make it 20-9. Another basket from downtown by McDermott pulled the team within 13, 25-12, at the 2:47 mark. Harman converted a twisting lay-up with under a minute to play, but the Crusaders held a 31-14 margin at halftime.  

Baker hit a pair of free throws and Jaya Nelson hit an inside shot late in the third stanza. Harman started the fourth quarter with a lay-up. A minute later, Saller canned a turnaround jumper. After a pair of free throws by BAC, Parker scored on a driving lay-up. At the 6:50 mark, Parker netted a pair of charity tosses. Parker found Saller for a lay-up with 5:47 to go. Baker and Burns each hit shots in the final 2:30.

For the game, Miller's team hit 12-of-48 from the floor. The squad canned three shots from downtown. The Pacers grabbed 25 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. USCA scored 16 points in the paint and had 11 off turnovers.

The Pacers return to action Saturday, Jan. 4, when they host Georgia College & State University at 1:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.