AUGUSTA, Ga. – Lander's Lea Saunders scored 22 points, helping the Lady Bearcats rally late, but their upset bid fell short 51-48 to Augusta State University in a Peach Belt Conference game Wednesday night at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Lander fell to 8-15 overall, 5-11 in the Peach Belt. The Jaguars improved to 18-5, 11-5.

Saunders made five of 10 attempts from 3-point range and seven of 15 shots overall to lead the Lady Bearcats.

Precious Elkins added 13 points and seven rebounds for Lander while Saunders had seven assists and six rebounds.

Jemimah Ashby led Augusta with 11 points, most coming in a crucial run in the second half. Becky Newhouse added 10 points, all coming in a first half rally that cut a Jaguar deficit from 14 points to four.

Laci Schreiber led Augusta with 13 rebounds while Tiffany Jaecks added 12 boards.

Lander made 17 of 49 shots from the floor (35 percent), eight of 13 free throws (62 percent), and six of 17 from 3-point range (35 percent).

The Jaguars made 22 of 65 shots (34 percent), four of seven free throws (57 percent), and three of 14 from behind the arc (21 percent).

Augusta had a big edge on the boards, out-rebounding Lander 47-34.

The Lady Bearcats led 11-4 on an Elkins layup at the 14-minute mark and had their largest lead of the game at 14 points, 26-12, when Elkins made both free throws with 7:31 left in the opening half.

But Augusta State closed the half with a 12-2 run, with Newhouse scoring 10 of those points on a pair of layups and two 3s. The Jaguars were within 28-24 at halftime.

Ashleigh Zandi and Elkins scored on consecutive possessions, giving Lander a 32-26 lead inside 18 minutes left in the game.

But Augusta went on an 8-0 run, including two baskets by Eryka Menzies, to take its first lead of the second half, 34-32, with 14:33 left.

Lander's McKale Hardy made two free throws to tie it at 34, and Saunders made a 3 to put the Lady Bearcats back in the lead, 37-36, with 12:09 to go.

But Brittany White made two free throws to move the Jaguars back on top, then Ashby made a basket, a 3-pointer, and another field goal to put the hosts up 45-37 with 8:24 left. The 9-1 run proved to be the pivotal momentum change of the game.

Ashby scored again, this time a layup, for Augusta's biggest lead of the game at 49-40 with 6:20 to go.

Lander made one more push as Saunders hit a 3 to pull the visitors within 51-46 at the two-minute mark and hit two free throws to make it a one-possession game, 51-48, with 1:48 left.

The Lady Bearcats continued to hold on the defensive end, but Aarika Judge missed a game-tying 3-point attempt with 47 seconds left, and Saunders missed a trey with one second to go.