SPARTANBURG----Shantia Porter scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Yakeeshia Ross broke the USC Upstate all-time rebounding record as USC Upstate claimed a 98-77 victory over an injury-depleted Lander squad Monday night in the Hodge Center.

USC Upstate improves to 14-11 overall and 11-7 in the Peach Belt Conference.  Lander falls to 4-21 overall and 0-18 in the league.

Ross entered the game needing four rebounds to tie and five to break the USC Upstate all-time rebounding record of 932 set by Yvette Moore in 1985.

Lander played the game with only five healthy players from the team that began the season.  The Bearcats dressed seven with two players being late-season additions due to the injury woes.  Still, the Bearcats fought hard and trailed by just three points at halftime, 43-40.

However, after Lander cut the USC Upstate lead to 43-42 at 18:40 in the second half, the Spartans went on a 9-0 run to open a 10-point lead with 15:34 to play.  The lead dipped down to seven points with 10:34 to play, but Lander ran out of gas and USC Upstate vaulted out to a commanding 23-point lead over the next five minutes to put the game away.

Courtney Bradley and Toya Shuler each scored 13 points for the Spartans, while Ross, Kristen Metcalf, and Lele Miles each had nine points.

Tara Nyikavaranda led Lander with 21 points.  Shatora Irby and Lashaundra Dubose added 18 and 17 points for the Bearcats.