GREENWOOD – Lander's LaShonda Chiles made a triumphant return home, scoring 28 points to lead the Lady Bearcats to a 93-75 non-conference women's basketball victory over Presbyterian Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams at Horne Arena.
Another Lander newcomer, freshman Jasmine Collier, was equally impressive with eight 3-pointers and 24 points.
Chiles, an All-American who played three years at Anderson University, transferred for her senior season back to her hometown and hit 10 of 18 shots from the floor to lead all scorers.
The Lady Blue Hose were led by Amy Jones with 23 points, Morgan Johnson with 21 points, Kerianne Blease with 14 points, and Bridget Takach with 12 points and eight assists. Johnson was the top rebounder in the game with 11.
Tiara Good added 13 points and eight assists for Lander while teammate Stephanie Ponds had five blocked shots. Tara Nyikavaranda was the top rebounder for the Lady Bearcats with 10.
Lander avenged a 101-67 loss against PC last season. The 93 points represented the most Lander has ever scored against the Lady Blue Hose. Lander beat PC 92-50 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools in 1978. LU leads the all-time series 23-20.
PC guard Jones completed a three-point play to give the visitors a 50-46 lead with 14:50 left in the game. After Lander forged back ahead, Takach hit a 3-pointer and Taylor Price scored inside to push the Lady Blue Hose back in front, 63-62, with 9:37 left.
But Lander took control of the game with a 13-2 run as April McClendon scored inside, Collier hit a 3-pointer, McClendon converted a three-point play, Chiles drove for a bucket, and Collier hit another trey to give the Lady Bearcats a 75-65 lead at the 6:50 mark.
PC hung tough, closing within 77-73 when Blease hit two free throws with 4:42 to go. But Chiles, Bryony Crouch and Collier hit consecutive 3-pointers to blow the game open at 86-73 with 2:50 left.
Lander started off its new season quickly when Crouch and Chiles hit 3-pointers for a 6-0 lead. But the Lady Blue Hose went on an 18-5 run over a five-minute stretch behind six points apiece from Jones and Johnson for an 18-11 advantage with 13:04 left.
The Lady Bearcats responded with a 20-2 run including 13 unanswered points to take a 31-20 lead with 7:56 left. Nyikavaranda started the 13-0 run with a basket inside, Chiles converted a three-point play, and Collier hit a 3-pointer to give Lander a 19-18 lead. Nyikavaranda hit two free throws and Good nailed a 3-pointer to complete the 13-0 run. Good swished another trey to finish the 20-2 run that spanned five minutes.
PC, however, finished the first half strong, outscoring the hosts 17-8 over the final 7:43. Jones and Johnson again led the charge with five points apiece. Jones and Johnson led the Lady Blue Hose with 11 points apiece in the first half. Chiles had 15 points to lead all first-half scorers while Good scored 10.
For the game, Lander made 33 of 75 shots from the floor (44 percent), 13 of 20 from the line (65 percent), and 14 of 29 from 3-point range (48 percent). PC made 28 of 72 shots from the field (39 percent), 11 of 12 free throws (92 percent), and only 8 of 28 from behind the arc (29 percent). The Lady Bearcats outrebounded PC 50-40.
With both teams running an up-tempo the entire game, each team took good care of the ball. PC had 16 turnovers, while the Lady Bearcats had 13.
