MORROW, Ga. - The No. 6 ranked Lander women's basketball team used a pair of 13-0 runs in the first half to propel the Lady Bearcats to an 86-54 victory over Wingate University Friday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional hosted by Clayton State University.
Lander, the second seed, improves to 28-3 overall and will play third-seeded and No. 8 ranked USC Aiken at 5 p.m. Saturday in the first semifinal. Wingate ends the season at 19-11. With the victory, the Lady Bearcats set a school record for wins in a season.
Brianna Webb scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Lady Bearcats. Webb connected on 7-of-14 field goals, including 4-of-10 three pointers. Jasmine Judge, who netted four three pointers, added 14 points, while Kaylyn Small posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Mukia Myrick dished off a team-high seven assists, while Ciara Lyons had six and Brittni Johnson five.
Lander, which started both halves of the games with the second team, outrebounded the Bulldogs, 44-28, and force 18 Wingate turnovers.
Wingate was led by Kurie Washington and CC Brooks, who scored 15 and 11 points respectively, while Tish Logan grabbed a team best six rebounds.
After the teams were tied at 2-2, the Bearcats started their first 13-0 run. Rachelle Rasley nailed two free throws, Webb sank a three, Small scored from underneath, Rasley hit another three and Myrick followed with yet another trey.
Wingate broke its scoring drought at 14:33 when Washington sank two free throws.
Judge, the top three-point shooter in the country most of the season, connected on another three at 13:41 to give Lander an 18-4 advantage.
Tiffany Brown connected on a two and a three to cut the Lady Bearcat lead to 20-9 at 12:48.
At 23-14, Lander started its second big run when Tasheba Butler hit a jumper, Small put one up from underneath, Webb drilled a three, Keondra Barnes sank one at close range, Small had a putback off Barnes' missed free throw and followed with another putback.
The Lady Bearcats, who led 47-22 at intermission, connected on 19-of-36 field goals in the first half for 52.8 percent while holding Wingate to 8-of-24 for 33.3 percent.
The second half was more of the first as Lander posted its first 30-point lead at 60-30 on a Judge three with 13:32 left. The Lady Bearcats biggest lead was 37 points when Webb sent in a three to give Lander a 69-32 lead with 10:13 left to play.
For the game, Lander connected on 35-of-71 field goals for 49.3 percent, including 10-of-26 from the three-point line for 38.5 percent. The Lady Bearcats made 6-of-13 free throws for 46.2 percent.
Wingate was 20-of-51 from the floor for 39.2 percent, including 4-of-13 threes for 30.8 percent. The Bulldogs were 10-of-14 from the foul line for 71.4 percent.
