COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Lander women's basketball team placed three players in double figures Wednesday night, but could never get their momentum going as the Lady Bearcats lost to Columbus State, 69-61, in a Peach Belt Conference game in the Lumpkin Center.

Columbus State improves to 5-5 overall and 1-2 in the PBC, while Lander moves to 4-6, 1-2.

Lander's Precious Elkins scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed six rebounds and teammate Lea Saunders was right behind with 18 points and eight assists. McKale Hardy contributed 10 points and six rebounds for the Lady Bearcats.

Shan Basley paced the Lady Cougars with 15 points, while Chatil Bradford had 12 points and six rebounds, Asha Alexander 10 points and six rebounds, and Taren White 10 points and five rebounds.

Lander connected on 27-of-62 field goals (43.5 percent), including 1-of-12 threes (8.3 percent), and 6-of-7 free throws (85.7 percent).

The Lady Cougars were 28-of-61 from the floor (45.9 percent), including 8-of-21 threes (38.1 percent) and 5-of-8 free throws (62.5 percent).

CSU outrebounded Lander, 39-32.

Columbus State jumped out to a 5-0 lead at 18:26, then Lander's Emili Russ cut the margin to 5-2 on a jumper in the paint at 18:21.

CSU responded by scoring the next six points to take an 11-2 lead on a White jumper at 15:41.

After trailing 40-27 at halftime, Lander opened the second half with a 7-0 run on an Elkins layup, a Russ three-point play and Saunders layup to cut the lead to 40-34 with 15:58 left in the game.

A Basley three pointer gave CSU a 47-37 advantage at 13:41 and the Lady Cougars gradually stretched their lead to 14 points -- 61-47 -- on a three by Kiersten Reid at 6:47.

Lander made a final run in the last minute and used two Elkins baskets to cut the lead to 67-61 with 28 seconds to play.