AIKEN - The No. 18 ranked Lander women's basketball team fell short in its rally to upset No. 13 USC Aiken Saturday night as the Lady Pacers claimed a 57-53 Peach Belt Conference victory in the Convocation Center.

USCA improves to 21-3 overall and 14-2 in the PBC, while Lander slips to 19-5, 14-2.

Brittni Johnson led Lander with 12 points, while Janyce Ealey had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Mukia Myrick scored 10 points.

Kayla Harris led USC Aiken with a game-high 16 points, while Hannah DeGraffinreed netted 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Daniela Tarailo scored 11 points.

After trailing 26-23 at halftime, Lander struck first in the second half and got back-to-back layups from Ealey and Myrick to take a 27-26 lead with 19:12 left in the game.

The two teams traded the lead twice before the Lady Bearcats eased out to a 33-28 lead on a Precious Elkins layup with 16:45 left. USCA forced the fifth tie of the game at 33-33 with 14:05 left on an Emily O'Rourke layup. The teams tied again at 36-36, 43-43, 50-50 and 52-52.

Harris netted the go-ahead layup for USCA with 1:33 left that gave the Lady Pacers the lead for good at 54-52.

Elkins cut the Pacer margin to 54-53 when she hit the second of two free throws at 1:04, but the Lady Pacers used a DeGraffinreed bucket to go up 56-53 with 38 seconds left.

Lander connected on 22-of-58 shots for 37.9 percent, including 2-of-17 threes for 11.8 percent. Lander made 7-of-11 foul shots for 63.6 percent.

USC Aiken was 20-of-52 from the field for 38.5 percent, including 1-of-6 threes for 16.7 percent. The Lady Pacers sank 16-of-24 free throws for 66.7 percent.