PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Lander women's basketball team scored 52 points in the second half to erase a one-point halftime deficit and cruised to a 72-39 victory Saturday afternoon over UNC Pembroke in the Peach Belt Conference opener for both teams.

The Lady Bearcats improved to 5-2 (1-0), while the Braves fell to 3-3 (0-1).

Lander's defense allowed the fewest points in a game since a 124-37 win over Allen in 2008. The Lady Bearcats forced 25 turnovers on the day. 

Sannayyiah Johnson led the Lady Bearcats with 17 points off the bench, including a team-high four three-pointers. The sophomore guard also added five rebounds and three steals.

Bre Crum scored 13 points on the afternoon, making four of seven shots, three of four from behind the 3-point line.

The Lady Bearcats made 25 of 63 shots from the floor (40 percent), 11 of 19 free throws (58 percent) and 11 of 27 from behind the arc (41 percent).

Avery Lockleaer led UNC Pembroke with seven points, Mary Robinson added six points while leading the Braves with three steals, and Jasmine Huntley paced UNC Pembroke with four assists.

The Braves made 12 of 51 shots (24 percent), 10 of 18 free throws (56 percent) and five of 24 from behind the arc (21 percent).

The Lady Bearcats trailed 21-20 at halftime after leading by as many as seven points in the first quarter. Lander held a 27-25 lead midway through the third quarter before going on an 11-0 run to increase the lead to 38-25 with 3:05 to play in the the third. Sannayyiah Johnson scored the final nine points of the run. 

Lander took a 43-30 lead into the fourth quarter and pulled away with an 19-8 run to go ahead 62-38 with 2:36 left to play.

UNC Pembroke connected on just five shots from the field in the second half.