WINGATE, N.C. --- Megan Starnes finished with a career-high 25 points, but it was not enough for seventh-ranked USC Aiken as the Lady Pacers suffered their first loss of the season, 72-66, to 16th-ranked Wingate on Wednesday .

The Pacers (6-1) controlled the game for much of the first half, going up by as many as three with a few seconds left in the half. Wingate's Stefani Shuey hit a jumper at the final buzzer of give the Bulldogs at one-point lead at the intermission.

Wingate (5-1) would take the lead for good early in the second half, stretching the lead to as many as 10.

The Pacers would get back to within four with five minutes left, but they could get no closer as Wingate held on for the victory.

The loss snaps USC Aiken's season-opening six game winning streak. It was the first for the Pacers against a ranked team in seven games.

Starnes was 8 of 18 from the field in the loss.

The senior guard knocked down a career-high five 3-pointers and has now scored 20 or more twice in USC Aiken's first seven games.

NEWBERRY 75, AUGUSTA STATE 54

In Newberry, S.C., Augusta State dropped its third game in a row as the Lady Jaguars fell to Newberry College in a non- conference contest.

South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week Helen McKinney led the way for Lady Indians with her third consecutive double-double, registering team highs in scoring (25) and rebounding (14).

Junior forward Porsha White tallied 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting to go along with her team-high seven rebounds for Augusta State. Junior guard/forward Nicole Mealing led the Lady Jaguars in scoring with 13 points. Senior forward Tracey Paschal notched 12 points and four steals.

The Lady Jags shot 31.7 percent from the field (19 of 60) and had a season-low 11 turnovers. Newberry shot 40.8 percent on the evening and won the rebounding battle 50-35.

Newberry (5-2) dominated the Lady Jags on the boards in the early going. Anita Butler and Sade Coates combined for seven offensive rebounds, equaling Augusta State's team total for the half.

Augusta State falls to 1-3 in Tes Sobomehin's first year as head coach.