GREENWOOD, S.C. - No. 4-ranked Lander outscored Columbus State 26-13 in a pivotal third quarter and Miriam Recarte had a huge defensive game as the Bearcats pulled away for an 81-62 Peach Belt Conference victory over the Cougars Friday afternoon at Horne Arena.

Lander earned its sixth consecutive victory, improving to 8-1 overall and 1-0 on the conference.

Columbus State fell to 6-4, 0-1.

Makaila Cange led all scorers with 21 points, making nine of 12 shots from the floor while grabbing eight rebounds and leading the Bearcats with three steals. Cange scored 12 of her 21 points in the third period and matched her season scoring average.

Zamiya Passmore added 18 points and eight rebounds for Lander while pacing the team with seven assists.

Recarte scored nine points but was a huge presence on the defensive end for the Bearcats with seven blocked shots and 14 rebounds, all defensive boards. Recarte reached 200 blocks in her career and was one block away from her single-game high of eight.

Jakiyah Parker added 11 points for Lander while Amiaya Melvins scored eight on four of five shooting.

Olonna Rawls led Columbus State with 18 points, Chrisalyn Boston added 12 points while Jurnee Smith paced the Cougars with 11 rebounds. Imani Arnold led Columbus State with five steals.

Lander made four consecutive shots during a 10-2 run to take a 10-5 lead. But the Bearcats missed 10 of their last 12 shots of the opening quarter as they held a slim 14-13 lead going into the second period. Recarte had six defensive rebounds and two blocked shots in the first quarter.

Parker's 3-pointer from the right corner gave the Blue and Gold a 17-15 advantage early in the second. But Smith made a 3-pointer and another basket as the Cougars scored nine unanswered points to take a 24-17 lead with 7:11 left in the half.

Passmore knocked down a 3-pointer from the left corner and Cange swished a trey from the top of the key bringing Lander within 26-25 with 4:44 to go. 

The game would be tied at 29, 31, 33 and 35 before Passmore found Melvins breaking to the basket inside for a layup with three seconds left, giving the Bearcats a 37-35 halftime lead.

Lander led at the break despite committing 13 turnovers and its best post player Cange being limited to three shots and no free throws.

The Bearcats responded early in the second half, opening with a 16-6 run starting with Recarte's 3-pointer from the right wing, Cange making four baskets inside and a pair of free throws, and Sarah Crews adding a transition trey. The highlight of Cange's four buckets was off a no-look fast-break pass from Passmore.

A reverse layup off an offensive rebound by Melvins in the final minute of the third gave Lander a 63-48 lead going into the final quarter. The Bearcats made 11 of 18 shots (61 percent) from the floor in the quarter to only five of 20 (25 percent) for Columbus State.

The Blue and Gold didn't score until two and a half minutes into the final period when Passmore swished a mid-range jumper from the left side for a 65-50 advantage.

Passmore's 3-pointer from the left wing upped Lander's lead to 72-57 with 4:43 left. The Bearcats took their first 20-point advantage with three minutes to go when Vashae Rideout converted a three-point play, making it 77-57.