GREENWOOD – Ty'hesha Reynolds moved into second place on Lander's career scoring list as she and Breshay Johnson each posted double-doubles, helping the Bearcats extend their Peach Belt Conference Eastern Division lead with a 73-44 victory over PBC rival UNC Pembroke Monday night at Horne Arena.

Lander earned its seventh consecutive win, improving to 17-5 overall and 10-3 in the Peach Belt.

The Bearcats won their sixth straight league game, staying ahead of UNC Pembroke (14-8, 9-6) and USC Aiken (9-6) for first place in the PBC East. Aiken lost to Armstrong State Monday night.

Lander took a 31-30 series lead over the Braves. The Bearcats haven't lost since falling 63-60 at UNC Pembroke on Jan. 18.

Lander has won nine consecutive games at home against Eastern division opponents and 18 of its last 19 meetings against Eastern teams in Horne Arena.

The Bearcats will have another opportunity to increase their lead in the East when they host Aiken on Saturday afternoon for homecoming.

Reynolds moved past Ciara Lyons for second place on Lander's career scoring list with 1,505 points. The senior guard trails only Shannon McKever, who scored 1,744 points in her illustrious Bearcats career.

Johnson led Lander with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Reynolds contributed 13 points and 10 boards while adding a team-high six assists.

Mylea McKenith tallied 16 points and four steals for the Bearcats, Destinee Langford had nine points, and Tabitha Dailey pulled down nine rebounds. Jessica Harris contributed eight points, five assists and four steals for Lander.

Brianna Baham paced the Braves with 13 points, Jasmine Hartley added nine points, and Nyla Allen led the visitors with nine rebounds.

Pembroke's Jonissa Mobley was held scoreless after pouring in 26 points in their previous meeting.

Brandi Robinson's jumper gave the Braves a 13-12 advantage with 2:06 left in the opening period. But Lander closed the quarter with a 7-0 run, taking a 19-13 lead into the second period. McKenith started the run with a 3 that gave the Bearcats the lead for good at 15-13, Harris collected a steal and layup, and Reynolds closed the quarter with a layup.

The run continued as Lander scored the first four points of the second period for a 23-13 lead. Baham's free throw pulled the Braves within 25-17 with 6:44 left in the half. But the Bearcats closed the half with a 15-2 run, taking control of the game with a 40-19 lead at the break.

McKenith started Lander's run with a layup off a Reynolds offensive board, Zuzana Talackova knocked down a 3, McKenith made a nice stop-and-go move in the paint for a layup, Reynolds scored off Johnson's steal, and Langford and Reynolds closed the half with 3s.

McKenith's layup gave the Bearcats their biggest lead of the game at 47-20 just inside the eight-minute mark.

Pembroke scored nine unanswered points to pull within 18, 47-29, with 4:41 left when Allen made two free throws, Aarico Williams hit a jumper, Baham drained a 3, and Se'Dasia Love collected a steal and layup.

But Lander scored the next seven points when Harris made a layup and hit two free throws, and Johnson converted a three-point play for a 54-29 advantage with 3:21 to go. The Bearcats led 58-35 going into the final quarter.

Johnson made consecutive layups as Lander increased its advantage to 66-42 with four minutes to go. One minute later, Talackova hit her second 3 of the game as the Bearcats matched their largest lead of the game at 69-42.

Kyra Wilson closed the game with consecutive layups in the final minute for Lander, giving the hosts a 29-point margin of victory.