AIKEN - With four sophomores and ten freshman, it was hard to believe the fifth-seeded Lander women's basketball team was playing for the Peach Belt Conference tournament championship Sunday at USC Aiken's Convocation Center.
It's even harder to believe they won.
The youthful Lady Bearcats, who improve to 20-10 overall, earned Lander's second straight PBC tournament title and an automatic berth into next week's NCAA Division II Regional tournament after defeating an experienced, third-seeded USC Aiken, 64-53. The Lady Bearcats became the first team to win back-to-back titles since Columbus State in 2000 and 2001. Lander will learn later tonight who they will play and when.
Mukia Myrick scored a team-high 17 points on 4-of-11 field goals and 8-of-9 free throws to lead the Lady Bearcats. Tournament MVP Shannon McKever added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Jasmine Judge netted 10 points. Judge was also named to the all-tournament team.
USCA, which drops to 22-11, was led by Morgan Johnson and Kendra Chandler, who scored 17 points each.
The Lady Pacers, who were making their second-ever championship game appearance and first since 2001, jumped out ahead early, largely due to the play of Johnson and Chandler, who combined for 19 of USCA's 22 first-half points. Johnson had 11 first-half points and seven rebounds, while Chandler added eight points.
The Lady Bearcats, playing in their fifth tourney title game, were saddled with early foul trouble. All-PBC performer McKever picked up two fouls in the first 1:46 of the game. LU's bench picked up the slack, however, with freshman center Kaylyn Small posting six points and six boards.
A Myrick jumper forced a 30-all tie at the 16:09 mark and sparked the Lady Bearcats to a 12-2 run. A Judge 3-pointer pushed the Lady Bearcats out a 42-32 lead before the Lady Pacers responded with a bucket from Johnson. Myrick countered with a trey and Brittni Johnson canned a 3-pointer at the 5:54 mark for a 51-35 LU advantage – its largest of the game.
Aiken answered with six straight, the last on a Johnson basket at the 3:55 mark, before a 3-point play from Myrick stemmed the tide. Aiken never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
The Lady Bearcats, who led 23-22 at halftime, connected on 22-50 field goals for 44 percent, including 5-of-16 three pointers for 31.3 percent. Lander made 15-of-19 free throws for 78.9 percent.
The Lady Pacers were 19-of-23 from the floor for 35.8 percent, including 4-of-8 three pointers for 50 percent. USCA sank 11-of-14 foul shots for 78.6 percent.
Also named to the all-tournament squad were Columbus State's Phebe Smith, Clayton State's Shanrika Hardeman, and USC Aiken's Kendra Chandler and Morgan Johnson.
