FLORENCE, S.C. – The No. 2-ranked Lander women's basketball team scored 31 first-quarter points and held Francis Marion to just eight made field goals in the second half en route to an 81-61 road win on Saturday afternoon. 

Lander (12-0, 10-0 PBC) scored 36 fast-break points and turned the Patriots (0-8, 0-7 PBC) over 17 times. Zamiya Passmore led all scorers with 28 points while adding six assists, three rebounds, and three steals. She made 17 trips to the free-throw line, knocking down 12 attempts. Makaila Cange finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds in the victory. 

After battling to a 17-17 tie with 3:28 left in the first quarter, Lander scored 14 of the quarter's final 18 points to take a 31-21 lead into the second period. Jakiyah Parker's free throws with 14 seconds left in the half put the Bearcats up 49-38 at the break. 

Francis Marion trimmed the deficit to six points with 6:41 to go in the third quarter, but a Miriam Recarte jumper ignited a 13-2 run for Lander over the ensuing five minutes. Recarte gave Lander a 15-point lead entering the fourth quarter with a layup in the final seconds of the third. Lander continued to stretch its lead in the final 10 minutes and Tyasia Freeman's lay-in with 39 seconds to go capped the scoring. 

The Bearcats finished with 44 points in the paint and outrebounded the Patriots 45-42.

Lander returns home for a date with Flagler on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 5:30 p.m. in Finis Horne Arena. 

#cLawsUp | @LanderWBB