JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Ciara Lyons and Jasmine Judge scored 17 points apiece, leading the No. 15 Lander women's basketball team to an 85-66 victory over Lincoln Memorial Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Carson-Newman Tournament.

The Lady Bearcats improved to 2-1 while Lincoln Memorial fell to 3-2. With the win, Lady Bearcat coach Kevin Pederson became Lander's all-time winningest women's basketball coach with 121 victories, surpassing Katrina Sacoco's (1984-91) mark of 120.

Lander and host Carson-Newman will meet at 3 o'clock on Sunday in the final round of the tournament.

Brittni Johnson added 12 points for Lander, Kaylyn Small almost had a double-double with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Mukia Myrick added eight points and a team-high seven assists. Myrick and Janyce Ealey had four assists apiece.

Lincoln Memorial's Amberly O'Dell led all scorers with 21 points, doing all her damage from behind the arc where she made seven of 11 attempts.

Dayshalee Salaman added a double-double for the Railsplitters with 18 points and 11 assists.

The Lady Bearcats had runs of 11-0 and 14-2 in the first half to take control of the game.

With the game tied at 5, Precious Elkins scored inside to start the 11-0 run and give Lander the lead for good at the 16:53 mark. Lyons scored three consecutive baskets and Judge ended the run with a 3-pointer, giving the Lady Bearcats a 16-5 lead with 13:55 to go.

After Lincoln Memorial pulled within 16-11, Rachelle Rasley started the 14-2 run with a 3-pointer. Lyons scored six more points, Kami Phillips and Myrick scored, and Elkins hit a free throw that would end the run, making it 30-13 with 6:44 left.

Lincoln Memorial scored the final five points of the first half of Salaman's 3-pointer and Edina Musa's layup to close within 41-31 at halftime.

Lander blew the game open after the break, outscoring the Railsplitters 28-10 over the first 10 minutes of the second half to build a 69-43 lead. The run was fueled by six 3-pointers. Myrick made one, Judge hit two consecutive attempts from behind the arc, Rasley hit one, and Johnson made the last two.

After Lincoln Memorial cut its deficit from 26 to 19, Johnson hit a jumper, then got a steal and layup to extend Lander's lead to 77-54 with 3:47 left. Small closed the scoring with the Lady Bearcats' final four points.

For the game, Lander made 33 of 74 shots from the floor, eight of 15 free throws and 11 of 27 from 3-point range. The Lady Bearcats had a 45-33 edge on the boards and forced 27 Lincoln Memorial turnovers.

The Railsplitters made 24 of 55 shots from the floor, seven of eight free throws, and 11 of 23 from behind the arc.