WINGATE, N.C. - Lander's Lea Saunders converted her own steal into the game-winning, three pointer with three seconds remaining Wednesday afternoon to lead the Lander women's basketball team to a 61-59 non-conference victory over Wingate University at Cuddy Arena. The final score marked the only time the Lady Bearcats led in the contest.

Lander, which earlier in the season lost to Wingate on a last-second shot, improves to 4-3 overall, while the Bulldogs drop to 5-5.

Aarika Judge, who tied Lander's single game scoring record with 41 points on Monday night in a win at UNC Pembroke, paced the Lady Bearcat attack with a game-high 19 points and seven rebounds, while Emili Russ added 16 points and seven rebounds and Saunders 11 points, six assists and four steals. Judge connected on 7-of-20 field goals, including 4-of-12 threes. Russ was 8-of-12 from the field.

The Bulldogs were led by Janitsha Williams' 14 points and eight rebounds, while Chantal Dunbar added a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards, and Sarah Wollett 12 points.

Trailing 50-40 with 12:59 left in the game, Lander started making its move with a 7-0 run. Precious Elkins scored on a layup at 12:43, Judge nailed a three pointer at 12:08, and Elkins dropped in two foul shots at 10:50 to cut the Wingate advantage to 50-47.

The two teams traded baskets until back-to-back jumpers by Saunders and Judge, brought Lander within 59-58 with 1:13 to play.

Wingate started the game with a 7-0 run and Lander finally rang up the scoreboard for the first time at 16:48 on a Judge three pointer. The Lady Bearcats kept the margin under double figures until Wingate scored seven unanswered points to take a 28-18 advantage with 4:33 left in the half on a Tish Logan jumper. Logan's three with five seconds left in the half gave her team a 36-24 halftime advantage.

The Bulldogs extended its lead to 46-30 with 16:34 left to play on Williams's three for their biggest lead of the game.

Lander connected on 25-of-64 field goals (39.1 percent), including 6-of-20 threes (30 percent) and 5-of-8 free throws (62.5 percent).

Wingate, which led at halftime, 36-24, made 21-of-69 floor shots (30.4 percent), including 6-of-20 threes (30 percent) and 11-of-15 foul shots (73.3 percent).