AMERICUS, Ga. – The Lander women's basketball team used a dominant second half and an outstanding rebounding effort to post a 90-53 win at Georgia Southwestern Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats (9-2, 4-1 PBC) shot 59.0 percent in the second half and 75.0 percent in the fourth quarter, while snagging 29 offensive rebounds in the game.

Four Bearcats were in double figures, led by Chelsea Mitchell's career-high 26 and including 19 from Breshay Johnson as Lander earned its fourth consecutive win. Mitchell and Johnson each posted double-doubles, collecting 12 and 13 rebounds, respectively. Mitchell tied her career-high with six steals, while Jessica Harris dished a season-high eight assists to go with her 12 points. Christal Williams tallied 17 points and four rebounds as Lander topped the 90-point plateau for the second consecutive contest.

The Bearcats trailed 4-0 early, but netted 19 of the next 25 points while forcing 11 Hurricane turnovers to take a nine-point advantage in to the second quarter. Georgia Southwestern (4-4, 1-3 PBC) ended a 4:37 scoring drought with a layup at the 6:18 mark of the second quarter and held Lander to just two points over the final 2:30 of the perdod to stay within nine points entering halftime. 

Leading 44-32 halfway through the third quarter, the Bearcats seized control with a 16-5 run that featured eight points and six rebounds from Mitchell to build a 60-39 lead after three stanzas. The fourth quarter belonged to Harris, who scored 10 of her 12 points in the final period as the Bearcats tied a season-high with 30 points in the fourth quarter. 

Lander shot 45.8 percent for the game, while holding Georgia Southwestern to 38.2 percent shooting. The Bearcats outrebounded the Hurricanes 52-33, their highest rebounding total of the season, and forced 27 Georgia Southwestern turnovers on the day. The 37-point margin of victory tied Lander's largest of the year.

The Bearcats open 2018 at home against UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 5:30 p.m.