SAVANNAH, Ga. - Shannon McKever became Lander's all-time leading scorer Wednesday night as the Lander women's basketball team survived its first test as the nation's No. 1 team in defeating Armstrong Atlantic State University, 88-71, in a Peach Belt Conference contest in Alumni Arena.

McKever, who netted 17 points -- all in the second half -- and grabbed five rebounds, surpassed Lorain Truesdale's record of 1,474 points on a jumper that gave Lander a 60-40 lead with 12:18 left in the game. McKever needed just three points coming into the game to tie Truesdale, who played at Lander from 1989-1993. McKever also holds the Lander career record for blocked shots, which she also set this season.

Lander, which moved to the top spot in the national rankings for the first time ever on Tuesday after six weeks at No. 2, remains unbeaten at 18-0 overall and 8-0 in the PBC. AASU slips to 7-8, 3-4.

Ciara Lyons led the Lady Bearcat attack with a game-high 22 points, while Mukia Myrick added 18 points.

Armstrong Atlantic was led by Mauri Wells and Jazmin Walker, who netted 17 points each, while Brooke Long had 13. Arpine Amirkhanyan added nine points and a game-high eight rebounds.

The Lady Bearcats used an early 12-0 run to take a 14-3 advantage with 14:27 left in the first half on a Kaylyn Small jumper.

AASU battled back to cut LU's lead to seven points at 19-12 on a Marissa Rembert jumper with 10:23 left until intermission.

Tasheba Butler's basket at 8:53 gave Lander a 25-14 margin and the Lady Bearcats maintained a double-figure lead the remaining of the game.

After leading 39-22 at halftime, Lander achieved its first 20-point advantage at 60-40 on a McKever jumper with 12:18 left in the game. Lander biggest lead of the game was 22 points, which the Lady Bearcats held at 62-40 on a pair of Lyons' free throws and at 66-44 on a Myrick layup.

Lander connected on 33-of-66 field goals for 50 percent, including 5-of-16 three pointers for 31.3 percent. The Lady Bearcats sank 17-of-27 free throws for 63 percent.

AASU was 26-of-58 from the floor for 44.8 percent, including 6-of-16 threes for 37.5 percent. The Lady Pirates made 13-of-20 foul shots for 65 percent.

Lander forced the Lady Pirates into 27 turnovers.

The Lady Bearcats host No. 17 USC Aiken at 1:30 p.m., in a PBC contest in Horne Arena.