AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA women's basketball team lost a 72-64 contest to USC Beaufort Wednesday evening in the PBC opener.

The Pacers are now 1-5 overall, including 0-1 in PBC play.

Head coach Brittany Batts' team was led by Mackenna Nix's 22-point, 10-rebound double-double effort. Mahkayla Premo added 12 points and three assists. Nika Kurdija had nine points while Ioanna Stefanaki contributed eight markers. Monique Emelifeonwu had two points and a game-best six blocks. Makaylei Snyder added five points while Zenia Palaska and Morgan McDermott had four and two, respectively.

Tied at 13-13 at the 4:11 mark of the first frame, USCA took control. The squad went on a 13-0 run to close out the frame. Palaska took a pass from Premo and buried a three-point bucket. After Premo hit two free throws, she canned a jumper for a seven-point cushion. Premo continued her run with another shot from distance as the clock expired. She ended the period with an old-fashioned three-point play for a 13-point margin.

Holding a 26-15 edge, Nix connected on a basket off a pass from Kurdija. Stefanaki gave the home team a 30-17 margin on a lay-up at the 7:35 mark. Leading 31-23, Kurdija scored the next five points en route to the 36-26 halftime advantage.

A three-point basket by Nix at the 7:33 mark of the third frame put the home team up 40-31. Nix netted four straight points to push the advantage to seven, 44-37, at the 4:12 mark. USCA maintained a 52-46 edge entering the final stanza.

A 15-2 run by the Sand Sharks gave the visitors a 61-56 lead and the team managed to hold onto the eight-point victory.

For the game, USCA hit 21-of-65 from the floor, including six-of-27 from distance. The team connected on 16-of-23 from the charity stripe. The Pacers pulled down 38 rebounds and had 18 second-chance points. Batts' team had 23 points from the bench.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play at Middle Georgia at 1:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.