AIKEN, S.C. – In a battle of top teams in the Peach Belt's East Division, Ty'hesha Reynolds and Breshay Johnson combined for 41 points to lead the Bearcats past in-state rival USC Aiken, 73-67, on Wednesday night in the Convocation Center.

Lander improves to 12-5 overall and 6-3 in the PBC, while USC Aiken moves to 11-9, (7-4).

Reynolds netted 20 of her 21 points in the second half and dished out six assists, while Johnson scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Jessica Harris added 11 points and five steals off the bench and Mylea McKenith chipped in five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Carly Gilreath led USCA with a 17 points, while Jasmine Coach grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Bearcats connected on 24-of-61 field goals (39.3 percent), including 8-of-21 three pointers (38.1 percent), and 17-of-25 foul shots (68.0 percent).

USC Aiken was 25-of-58 from the floor (43.1 percent), including 7-of-20 three pointers (35.0percent), and 10-of-13 free throws (76.9 percent).

Lander trailed 32-25 at halftime and faced a 41-35 deficit with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter, but Reynold scored on three consecutive posessions and Zuzana Talackova knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 45-45, the first tie since the final minutes of the first period. 

A jumper from Harris ended the third quarter with the score even at 47-47 and Alexius High's three-pointer with 9:29 to play gave Lander its first lead since the 3:15 mark in the first quarter. After the Pacers evened the score at 50-50, Reynolds scored eight straight points to give the Bearcats a 58-50 lead with 7:15 remaining. 

USC Aiken would pull within three with 6:11 to go, but back-to-back baskets from Johnson pushed the Bearcat lead to 62-55 as Lander kept the Pacers at bay over the final five minutes.