AIKEN, S.C. – All five Lander starters scored in double figures as the Bearcat women's basketball team defeated USC Aiken, 77-65, on Saturday night in a Peach Belt Conference game at the Convocation Center. 

The Bearcats improve to 17-6 overall and 11-3 in the PBC, while USC Aiken sinks to 9-14, 4-10. With the win, Lander remains in a tie for first place in the Eastern Division. The Bearcats have won five consecutive games.

Ty'Hesha Reynolds and Sannayyiah Johnson led the Bearcats with 13 points each. Breshay Johnson finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. 

Reynolds scored her 1,000th career point on her first basket of the evening, a 3-pointer with 4:52 left in the first quarter. The junior has netted 1,010 points in her Bearcat career and is 193 points away from 10th place on Lander's all-time scoring list. 

The Pacers were led by 16 points from Stephanie Ball and Kassy Johannsen. Mariah Durian came off the bench to score 11 points. 

After falling behind 8-2 to open the game, the Bearcats embarked on a 12-0 run to take the lead for good. Lander outscored the Pacers 19-5 over the final seven minutes of the first quarter and led 21-13 after the opening period. 

Lander took a 55-50 lead into the final quarter, but USC Aiken rallied to tie the game at 59-59 with 6:06 to play. The Bearcats answered with baskets on their next three offensive possesions to go ahead 65-59 with 4:09 remaining. Lander knocked down 10 free throws in the final 3:42 to put the game away.

The Bearcats connected on 25-of-55 floor shots (45.5 percent), including 8-of-18 threes (44.4 percent), and 19-of-33 free throws (57.6 percent).

USC Aiken was 24-of-57 from the field (42.1 percent), including 11-of-24 threes (45.8 percent), and 6-8 foul shots (75.0 percent).