AMERICUS, Ga. – The No. 13-ranked Lander women's basketball team will open Peach Belt Conference competition on Saturday evening at Georgia Soutwestern. Tip-off between the Bearcats and Hurricanes is set for 5:30 p.m. from the Storm Dome.

QUICK HITTERS

Where to Watch: PBC Sports Network

Live stats: LanderBearcats.com

First Met: Jan. 27, 2007 (89-68 Lander)

Last Met: Jan. 4, 2020 (64-52 Lander)

Lander Record: 2-0, 0-0 PBC

Georgia Southwestern Record: 2-1, 0-0 PBC

Last Five Against Georgia Southwestern: 5-0

Next Game For Lander: Jan. 9, 2021 vs. Clayton State (1:30 pm)

STORYLINES

• Saturday marks the 20th meeting between Lander and Georgia Southwestern. The Bearcats lead the series 18-1 and haven't opened PBC play against the Hurricanes since 2008. 
• A win on Wednesday would be Lander's seventh consecutive victory in its PBC opener. 
• Lander is 19-1 in its last 20 games during the month of January. 
• The Bearcats have won at least nine road games in each of the last six seasons.
• Lander is seeking its first 3-0 start since the 2010-11 campaign.
• A victory would be the Bearcats' ninth straight win over the Hurricanes.
• The Bearcats are 8-2 in their last 10 road conference games.
• Lander's 68 PBC wins since 2016-17 are the most in the league.
• The Bearcats have won their last 14 games against PBC opponents by double-digits.
• Lander entered the season ranked No. 13 in the D2SIDA Preseason Poll after being ranked in the final four D2SIDA polls of the 2019-20 campaign, including finishing the year ranked. No. 13. 
• The Bearcats were picked to finish second in the PBC behind North Georgia.
• Sophomore guard Zamiya Passmore and sophomore forward Makaila Cange are averaging double figures after non-conference play, with Passmore's 20.5 points per game leading the way.
• Cangé ranks second in the conference in shooting percentage at 58.8 percent this season.
• Lander has forced each of its last four opponents to turn the ball over at least 22 times. The Bearcat defense caused 28 turnovers against Belmont Abbey on Saturday, the most by the
• Crusaders since the 2018-19 season opener. 
• The Bearcats are averaging 38.0 points in the paint and outscoring their opponents by 13.0 points per game in that category. Lander is also attempting 27.5 free throws per game.
  Lander is ranked in the top-25 nationally in turnover margin (5th - +11.5), steals per game (7th - 13.5), scoring defense (10th - 56.0 ppg), scoring margin (11th - +15.0), assist-to-turnover ratio (19th - 1.07), and turnovers per game (21st - 13.5).
• After leading the PBC in assists per game as a freshman last season, Passmore currently leads the conference with 5.5 per game.
• Lander's 18-2 mark in PBC play last season was highest winning percentage by a conference team in a non-divisional season since North Georgia's 19-1 league mark in 2005-06.
• The Bearcats tied the school record for PBC wins last year, a mark that was set in 2018-19.
• Lander went 7-2 in road conference games last season.
• The Bearcats swept the outright regular-season title and PBC Tournament title for the first time in program history in 2019-20.
• Last season, Lander led the PBC in scoring offense, scoring margin, made field goals, turnover margin, and assist-to-turnover ratio.
   

#cLawsUp | @LanderWBB