AIKEN, S.C. – Mahkayla Premo hit a runner in the lane with four seconds to play, lifting the USCA women's basketball team to a 61-60 victory over Francis Marion Tuesday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 2-6 on the season while the Patriots fall to 5-2.

Head coach Brittany Batts' team was led by Mackenna Nix's team-best 20 points. She added eight rebounds and three steals in the victory. Morgan McDermott totaled 16 points while Monique Emelifeonwu narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 10 boards. She also swatted a game-high seven blocks and posted two steals for good measure.

Premo and Zenia Palaska added four points apiece while Riley Miller had three points and five assists. Destiny Harman totaled three points, two assists and a pair of steals. Ioanna Stefanaki had two points and three assists.

Trailing by one, Ioanna Stefanaki converted an off-balance shot in the lane. She then found Riley Miller for a three-point bucket at the 3:17 mark for a four-point cushion. Holding an 11-9 lead, Palaska buried a jumper. McDermott followed it up with a basket in the final minute before FMU made it 15-11 entering the second period.

Leading 19-14, Palaska canned another jumper. Nix sliced the defense for a shot in the lane. Moments later, Harman found McDermott for a long-distance bucket, extending the advantage to 10. Miller connected with Nix for a jumper, pushing the score to 28-16. A runner in the lane just before halftime by Premo gave Batts' squad a 32-18 lead at the break.

The Patriots whittled USCA's lead to 42-40 entering the fourth quarter. Batts' squad netted the first four points – all of which were from McDermott – for a 46-40 edge. The Pacers extended the margin to seven on an old-fashioned three-point play by Nix with 6:31 to play.

FMU took a 56-55 lead with 2:10 to play, but McDermott countered with a basket at the 1:49 mark. Trailing 60-59, Premo sliced through the defense for the game-winning shot with four ticks remaining. USCA's defense stood tall, forcing a missed jumper with a second to play, sealing the win.

For the game, USCA hit 25-of-61 from the floor, including six-of-21 from downtown. The team pulled down 37 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive glass. USCA dished out 13 assists and had 13 steals. The squad recorded 30 points in the paint.

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