GREENWOOD – Mylea McKenith scored 28 points as the Lander Bearcats extended their winning streak to nine, moving closer to their third consecutive Peach Belt Conference East Division championship with an 84-66 victory over in-state rival USC Aiken Saturday afternoon during Homecoming at Horne Arena.

Lander improved to 19-5 overall, 12-3 in the PBC in front of more than 1,000 people at Horne Arena. The Pacers fell to 13-13, 9-8.

The Bearcats have a two-and-a-half game lead over UNC Pembroke (10-6) in the Eastern Division, with four league games left for Lander and three for the second-place Braves.

The Bearcats have won 19 of their last 20 games at Horne Arena. Lander took a 44-41 advantage in the all-time series with the Pacers, including wins in six of their last seven meetings.

The Bearcats have won 11 consecutive games at home against Eastern Division opponents and 20 of their last 21 meetings against Eastern teams in Horne Arena.

McKenith made nine of 15 shots from the floor while adding five assists and three steals for Lander.

Ty'hesha Reynolds added 19 points for the Bearcats while adding four assists and leading the team with four steals. The senior guard is currently second on Lander's all-time scoring list with 1,542 career points. Reynolds is 202 points away from tying Shannon McKever for first place.

Jessica Harris contributed 17 points for the Bearcats, hitting four of five shots from the floor and eight of 10 from the free-throw line while adding four assists.

Destinee Langford scored nine points and led Lander with six assists. Tabitha Dailey paced the Bearcats with 10 rebounds while Lea Petit came off the bench to add six points.

Breshay Johnson, who has posted 11 double-doubles this season, left the game with eight minutes left in the third quarter due to an injury and finished with five points and two boards for Lander.

Rachelle Aupont was Aiken's only double-figure scorer with 23 points. Kwajelin Farrar was next with eight points while leading the Pacers with nine rebounds. Kate Duff and Melyk Taouil paced Aiken with four assists apiece.

In a first quarter during which there were six ties, the Pacers took a 16-13 lead with 2:28 left on Aupont's 3. It would be their last lead of the game. Lander closed the period with 10 unanswered points including 3s by Reynolds and McKenith, and a three-point play by McKenith for a 23-16 lead going into the second quarter.

Farrar rebounded her own missed shot and laid it in, pulling Aiken within 27-24 with 7:41 left in the half. Sade Johnson's basket closed the Pacers within 33-28 at the 4:19 mark.

The Bearcats outscored Aiken 17-6 over the final four minutes of the half, taking a 50-34 lead at the break. Reynolds made a pair of 3s while Harris also made a trey and four free throws during the run.

Langford, McKenith and Reynolds knocked down 3s as Lander built its lead to 63-38 with 6:07 left in the third quarter.

Aupont's three-point play cut the Pacers deficit under 20 points at 67-48 at the 2:15 mark. But the Bearcats closed the third quarter with a 7-2 run for a 74-50 lead going into the fourth. McKenith swished a 3 from the left corner, Harris made a layup, and McKenith converted a fast-break layup at the buzzer off Dailey's steal.

Harris scored a layup in the first minute of the final quarter, giving Lander its largest lead of the game at 26 points, 76-50. Harris made two free throws for an 81-58 advantage with 5:44 to go.