AIKEN, S.C. – The visiting UNC Pembroke women's basketball team committed 19 team fouls and gave the USC Aiken Pacers 16 free throws to seize the 58-53 win over the Braves on Wednesday evening inside the Convocation Center in Peach Belt Conference east division action.

UNCP (6-14, 4-9 PBC) fell in its fourth-straight loss and dropped both contests this season to USC Aiken (14-8, 10-3).

Senior Avae' Hardy went 4-for-9 from the field after knocking down three of UNCP's 10 three-pointers to tally a game-high 13 points, while Phoenicia Lawson drained nine points after coming off the bench. Senior Jazmine Kemp collected nine rebounds and a team-best five assists.

The Braves clinched 16 points off the Pacers' 13 turnovers, while USC Aiken scored 13 points off second chance shots and 18 in the paint compared to UNCP's 12 inside the lane. The two teams registered 56 points from bench players as UNCP had 30 from the six players.

USC Aiken opened the contest with a 9-4 run through the first five minutes, but UNCP retaliated with a 11-2 run to control a four point lead on Katelyn Mitchell's trey. The Braves extended their lead to nine points on another three-pointer from Mitchell with 3:36 left until the end of the half, however the Pacers knocked in a pair of three-pointers, a jumper and free throw to send the teams into the locker room with a tied score, 30-30.

The contest paced back-and-forth over the majority of the second stanza and was tied up at 53-53 with 2:30 left in the game. UNCP committed five fouls and two turnovers in the final two minutes to allow USC Aiken the opportunity to go 5-for-9 from the charity stripe and take away the 5-point win. 

Both Kate Duff and Carly Gilreath knocked down 12 points for USC Aiken, while Mackenzie Reence added 11 points and Emry Tsitouris picked up 11 boards.

The Braves will continue on the road with a 1:30 p.m. tipoff against Young Harris (9-11, 6-7) on Saturday in Young Harris, Ga., inside the YHC Basketball Arena in PBC action.