GREENWOOD – The Lander women's basketball team got 26 points from Jessica Harris, including 16 consecutive Bearcat points in the third quarter, and stayed unbeaten in the Peach Belt Conference with an 87-71 victory over USC Aiken Saturday afternoon at Horne Arena. It was Lander's 11th consecutive victory.

The Bearcats improved to 15-3 overall and 10-0 in the Peach Belt, matching their best league start since the 2011-12 season. North Georgia is in second place at 9-1 but has already lost to Lander.

The Bearcats, who trailed 38-29 late in the first half, outscored the Pacers 56-24 to build a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter.

It was Lander's seventh win in its last eight games against USC Aiken, which fell to 10-8, 5-5. The Bearcats lead the all-time series 48-42.

"If Jessica Harris doesn't step up and go on that run she had and put the team on her back, there's no way we win this game," said head coach Kevin Pederson. "Zimaya Passmore played a great game and Aniaya Jester's defense really sparked us, but if [Harris] doesn't step up when we're struggling to score, it's a different outcome today."

Harris made eight of 12 shots from the floor including four of seven from 3-point range while leading the Bearcats with four steals.

Harris passed Lorain Truesdale for sixth on the program's all-time scoring list.

Zamiya Passmore also had a big game for Lander, scoring 20 points on nine of 17 shooting while sharing team-high honors with five assists.

Tabitha Dailey added 13 points on six of eight shooting while pacing the Bearcats with five rebounds. Aniaya Jester scored nine points while Sarah Crews added eight points and five assists.

Kwajelin Farrar led USC Aiken with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Melyk Taouil added 14 points while leading the Pacers with seven assists. Chesney Gardner added 12 points for USC Aiken.

Jester made a 3 from the left corner and Harris hit a jump shot, giving Lander a 14-6 lead with four minutes left in the opening quarter. But the Pacers closed within 18-15 going into the second period.

Passmore intercepted a back-court pass and laid it in, giving the Bearcats a 22-15 advantage in the opening minute of the second quarter.

But USC Aiken went on an 11-3 run, taking its first lead of the game at 26-25 with 4:51 left in the half on Rikoya Anderson's two free throws.

Trailing 29-28, the Pacers scored 10 unanswered points including Alex Canady's basket and 3-pointer to take a 38-29 lead inside the two-minute mark. Lander closed the half with four consecutive free throws to pull within 38-33 at the break.

The Bearcats were out-rebounded 23-10 in the first half and missed their last nine shots from 3-point range, going 0 for 8 in the second quarter.

Lander's Makaila Cange tied the game at 42-all at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter with a three-point play and then Harris caught fire with back-to-back 3s to give Lander a 48-46 advantage.

Harris's run of consecutive Bearcat points grew to 16 when she stole the ball and drove in for a layup, giving Lander a 58-53 lead with 2:04 left in the third. The senior point guard had three 3s and a three-point play during her personal run.

Harris's run of points ended when teammate Crews made a 3, upping the lead to 61-55 at the 1:15 mark.

The Bearcats scored 31 points in the third quarter and led 64-58 going into the fourth.

Miriam Recarte's turn-around jumper in the lane gave Lander its largest lead of the game at 69-58 just inside eight minutes left.

The Bearcat advantage continued to grow as a left corner 3 by Crews followed by Dailey's basket inside made it 76-60 with 6:03 to go.

Passmore's 3 increased the lead to 85-62 with 3:54 left as Lander had outscored Aiken 21-4 to that point in the final quarter.

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