GREENWOOD - The No. 4-ranked Lander women's basketball team used a 34-3 run late in the first half Saturday night to pace the Lady Bearcats to a 72-48 non-conference victory over third-ranked Tusculum College in the Lady Bearcats D-2 Tipoff Classic in Horne Arena.

Lander opens the season at 1-0, while Tusculum is 0-1. In the other half of the Classic, USC Aiken (1-0) defeated Carson-Newman (0-1), 62-36.

On Sunday, USC Aiken will play Tusculum at 2 p.m., followed by Lander versus Carson-Newman at 4:30.

Shannon McKever and Tasheba Butler posted double-doubles to lead the Bearcats. McKever netted 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds and had four blocked shots, while Butler scored 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds. Brittni Johnson added 14 points to go along with seven assists.

Tusculum was led by All-American Jasmine Gunn, had scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-16 field goals and 4-of-8 free throws. Kendal Baxter added 11 points for the Lady Pioneers, while Linda Aughburns grabbed 11 rebounds.

Lander connected on 24-of-58 shots for 41.4 percent, including 7-of-15 threes for 46.7 percent. The Lady Bearcats also made 17-of-18 free throws for 94.4 percent.

Tusculum was 16-of-52 from the field for 30.8 percent, including 4-of-13 threes for 30.8 percent. The Lady Pioneers were 12-of-21 for 57.1 percent.

After being tied at 2-2 and 8-8, Lander took a 10-8 advantage on a jumper by McKever. Tusculum bounced right back with a pair of Baxter three-pointers and an Aughburn jumper to take a 16-10 lead with 12:34 left in the first half.

Lander cut the lead to 16-15 on a Kaylyn Small bucket and a Johnson three at 11:22, but the Lady Pioneers stretched the lead to 18-15 on a Gunn jumper.

The Lady Bearcats then tied the game at 18-18 and outscored Tusculum 31-3 the final nine minutes of the half.