Women's Basketball 1/12/2021 12:00:00 AM

No. 6 women's basketball returns to play against Francis Marion on Wednesday

GREENWOOD – The No. 6-ranked Lander women's basketball team returns to play when they host Francis Marion on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m.

QUICK HITTERS

Where to Watch: Bearcat Broadcasting Network

Live stats: LanderBearcats.com

First Met: Jan. 28, 1977 (67-42 Francis marion)

Last Met: Feb. 22, 2020 (81-54 Lander)

Lander Record: 4-0, 2-0 PBC

Francis Marion Record: 0-3, 0-1 PBC

Last Five Against Francis Marion: 5-0

Next Game For Lander: Jan. 16, 2021 at Georgia College (1:30 pm)

STORYLINES

Lander rose to No. 6 in the latest D2SIDA Women's Basketball Poll after being ranked No. 13 in the preseason.
The Bearcats and Patriots are meeting for the 89th time in series history. Francis Marion leads the all-time series 39-49. The Patriots have played the second-most games ever against the Bearcats (88), second behind only USC Aiken (95).
Lander enters the matchup with a seven-game winning streak against the Patriots.
Makaila Cange scored 19 points on 6-for-8 shooting in Lander's win over Clayton State on Saturday while also grabbing 12 rebounds. She is one of only three players in the conference with at least three steals in three different games this season.
Lander's offensive attack has been balanced this season, with four players averaging at least 9.0 points per game. Cangé and Zamiya Passmore each average 15.8 points per game, while Sarah Crews and Amiaya Melvins are each averaging 9.0 points per game.
Through four wins, the Bearcats have a scoring margin of +18.0, which leads the PBC and is tied for 12th in the NCAA. Lander won by a season-high 35 points (W, 85-50) against Clayton State. They won by 22 points (W, 67-45) against Augusta and eight points (W, 75-67) against No. 23 Belmont Abbey. Their smallest margin of victory is seven points at Georgia Southwestern (W, 57-50). Eleven players are averaging at leaast 2.0 points per game. All five starters scored in double figures in the win over Clayton State - Cangé (19), Passmore (14), Miriam Recarte (13), Crews (11), Melvins (10). It marked the first time since Tabitha Dailey (23), Aniaya Jester (21), Passmore (19), Jessica Harris (16), Cangé (10) vs. Columbus State (2/8/20).
Lander is allowing 53.0 points per game, which leads the PBC and ranks seventh in the country. They allowed a season-low 45 points in the 67-45 win over Augusta.
Francis Marion is 0-3 overall, 0-1 PBC play and enters Wednesday's contest on a four-game losing streak. The Patriots lost 73-58 vs. Georgia Southwestern on Saturday. They rank fifth in the league with 7.0 made three-pointers per game.
Lander is 4-0 for the first time since 2010-11.
The Bearcats went 15-1 in weekday games last season.
Lander is 102-21 in PBC play since the 2014-15 campaign.
Cangé and Recarte have combined for 31.5 points and 21.0 rebounds per game in Lander's last two contests.
Recarte leads the Peach Belt Conference with 12 blocks this season and ranks fifth nationally with 3.0 blocks per game.
Lander's defense is forcing 21.7 turnovers per game, which ranks tied for 20th in the country.
The Bearcats knocked down a season-high nine three-pointers in Saturday's win over Clayton State.
Quin'De'Ja Hamilton is 7-for-17 from beyond the arc this season, shooting 41.2 percent from deep while leading the Bearcats in made threes.
Freshman Natalia Crooke had her best game as a Bearcat on Saturday, scoring four points and notching three assists and two rebounds in 14 minutes, all career highs.