AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA women's basketball team lost a hard fought 65-64 game to Lander on Senior Day Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers conclude the season at 6-22 overall, including 3-15 in PBC play. The Bearcats stand at 13-12 overall and 8-10 in league action.

Head coach Mark Miller's team was led by Kendall Parker's game-high 17 points. Serena Baker added 16 points and 10 rebounds while Rhiannon Saller had eight points and 10 boards. Sami Bardonaro notched seven points while Paris Webster totaled nine rebounds, five points and three steals. Jaya Nelson had five points while Riley Simmons and Gracie Huffard chipped in four and two, respectively.

Down 9-4 in the early going, Nelson canned a three-ball on the break. An old-fashioned three-point play by Baker gave the home team a 10-9 advantage. Lander led 17-12 before Saller nailed a jumper with 19 ticks remaining in the quarter. 

Trailing 19-16, Parker and Sami Bardonaro hit back-to-back three-point baskets. The Bearcats managed to knot the score at 24-24 before Saller converted a lay-up. A pair of free throws by Bardonaro and a lay-up by Simmons extended the advantage to six, 30-24, with 3:42 to play. Miller's team continued its offensive pressure and led by eight after a jumper from Baker. Holding a 35-29 advantage, Parker made two free throws with 24 ticks left for a 37-29 lead at the break.

In the third frame, USCA went up 39-33 on a pair of free throws by Baker. Holding a 41-39 advantage, Simmons got loose for an inside shot at the 3:37 mark. Leading 45-42, Nelson hit a pair of charity tosses and Baker hit a couple for a 49-42 cushion. Lander made it 51-45 just before the start of the final quarter.

Leading 53-50, Webster drained a jumper. A pair of free throws by Saller extended the margin to seven, 57-50, at the 6:50 mark. However, Lander whittled away the deficit and tied it at 59-59. Parker answered with a jumper. The teams traded baskets but a late jumper by Lander pushed the score to 65-64. USCA had a last second shot, but it narrowly missed.

For the game, USCA hit 22-of-60 (36.7 percent) from the floor and 17-of-19 (89.5 percent) From the charity stripe. The team held a 44-43 edge on the glass and outscored the visitors 32-22 in the paint. The 14 offensive boards led to 19 second chance points.