AUGUSTA, GA. - Mylea McKenith came off the bench to score a career-high 19 points as the Lander women's basketball team defeated Augusta, 67-61, in a Peach Belt Conference matchup in Christenberry Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

Lander improves to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in the conference, while Augusta slips to 11-4 and 4-2 in PBC action. The Bearcats will next host conference foe USC Aiken at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Horne Arena.

McKenith led all scorers with 19 points and added six rebounds, while Breshay Johnson scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds. Ashleigh Zandi led Lander with a season-high eight rebounds and netted five points. 

The Jaguars were led by Breonna O'Conner's 18 points, while Kariel Hutt added 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Lander, which led 28-24 at halftime, connected on 26-of-66 field goals (39.4 percent), including 5-of-15 threes (33.3 percent), and 10-of-16 foul shots (62.5 percent).

Augusta, which was averaging 71.5 points per game which outscored the Bearcats, was 26-of-63 from the floor (41.3 percent), including 5-of-14 threes (35.7 percent), and 4-of-8 free throws (50.0 percent). The Jaguars outrebounded Lander, 40-37.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game before Augusta stormed back to take an 18-14 lead with 7:40 to play in the first half. McKenith's jump shot with 40 seconds left in the half gave Lander a four-point lead heading into halftime. 

The Jaguars outscored Lander 17-13 in the third quarter to tie the game at 41-41 entering the final period, but the Bearcats scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to take a 48-41 lead at the 8:56 mark. A layup from Johnson increased Lander's lead to 55-43 with 6:18 to play, but a 7-0 run from the Jaguars cut the lead to 55-50 with 4:29 remaining. 

A three-pointer from Joshlyn Belcher with 24 seconds left trimmed Lander's advantage to 63-60, but the Bearcats connected on four free throws in the final 18 seconds to put the game away.