AMERICUS, Ga. – Lander forced 29 turnovers and the Bearcats netted 23 points in the final quarter to rally and defeat Georgia Southwestern, 80-70, in a Peach Belt Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon.

Lander improves to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the PBC, while Georgia Southwestern slips to 6-3, 0-2.

Ty'Hesha Reynolds led the Bearcats with 17 points, while Breshay Johnson added 16 points, and Bre Crum recorded 15 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

Georgia Southwestern's Ja'Quasha Sesler led the Hurricanes with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Yvonna Dunkley had 12 points, and Va'Queshia Hall had 10 points.

The Hurricanes jumped out to an early 8-0 lead in the first quarter and led 21-18 at the end of the period. Georgia Southwestern opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run to extend its lead to 31-18 with 7:08 remaining in the half. Lander scored the final eight points of the quarter to trim the deficit to 42-36 at halftime. 

The Bearcats outscored the Hurricanes 21-15 in the third quarter, as Reynolds' jumper with one second remaining in the third tied the game at 57-57 entering the final the period. 

Johnson's layup with 9:27 to play gave the Bearcats their first lead of the game at 59-57. The Hurricanes cut Lander's lead to 72-70 with 2:03 left in the fourth, but the Bearcats ended the game on an 8-0 run to clinch the victory.  

Georgia Southwestern won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Bearcats, 54-42.

For the game, Lander connected on 28-of-70 field goals (40.0 percent), including 4-of-11 threes (36.4 percent), and 20-of-24 free throws (83.3 percent).

Georgia Southwestern made 23-of-63 floor shots (36.5 percent), including 8-of-21 threes (38.1 percent), and 16-of-26 foul shots (61.5 percent).

The Bearcats will next travel to Johnson C. Smith for a non-conference game at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31 in Charlotte, N.C.