FLORENCE – Kayla West dropped in a pair of free throws with 1:51 left to play while Alexis Armstrong and Alyssia Watkins hit key free throws down the stretch to lead the Lander women's basketball team to a 64-61 regular-season finale victory over Peach Belt Conference rival Francis Marion in the Smith University Center and a spot in next week's PBC Tournament.

With the win, Lander, 12-16 overall and 7-12 in the PBC, advances to the PBC Tournament, which will be hosted by Columbus State University, March 6-9. The PBC Tournament brackets will be announced later today. Francis Marion drops to 13-13, 7-12.

Portia McCray and Armstrong each had double-doubles to lead the Lady Bearcats. McCray had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Armstrong put up 14 points and 11 boards. West added 12 points.

Kim Roach led FMU with 12 points and six rebounds, while Briana Robinson totaled 11 points, and Alexia Bell 10 points and five rebounds. Dee Gray added nine points and nine rebounds for the Lady Patriots.

Lander connected on 21-of-54 shots (38.9 percent), including 6-of-18 threes (33.3 percent) and 16-of-29 foul shots (55.2 percent).

With 1:51 remaining in the game, West connected on the second of two free throws to give Lander a 61-60 lead. Armstrong hit the first of two foul shots with 35 seconds left to put the Bearcats up 63-60.

After FMU's Gray hit the first of two free throws to close the gap to 63-61 with five ticks remaining, Watkins sealed the win with a free throw with four seconds left.