GREENWOOD – The No. 2-ranked Lander women's basketball team clinched at least a share of its second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season title Monday night, staying undefeated with an 83-62 victory over Columbus State at Horne Arena.

The Bearcats improved to 15-0 overall, 13-0 in the PBC. Lander can complete its first unbeaten regular season in program history with a win at UNC Pembroke on Wednesday.

The Cougars fell to 2-4 overall, 2-4 in the league.

Zamiya Passmore led the Bearcats with 21 points and four steals.

Makaila Cange posted her 11th double-double in 15 games for Lander this season, scoring 17 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. The reigning PBC Player of the Week is averaging more than 13 rebounds per game and is on pace for the second-highest average in program history.

Miriam Recarte fell just short of a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine boards for the Blue and Gold. Recarte's streak of consecutive games with at least one blocked shot ended at 16.

Jakiyah Parker contributed 10 points for Lander while Sarah Crews added eight points, a team-high six assists and three steals. Quin'De'Ja Hamilton scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter off the Bearcat bench.

Olonna Rawls paced Columbus State with 21 points, Amber Abusbeih added 11 points and Emilia Tenbrock 10 points. Chrisalyn Boston and Aryan Dozier led the Cougars with seven rebounds apiece.

Parker had seven of Lander's first 14 points of the game while Cange had six points and nine rebounds in the opening quarter, helping stake the Blue and Gold to a 21-16 lead.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, Cange had already reached double figures in rebounds.

Rawls scored inside to pull Columbus State within 27-23 with seven minutes left in the half. Recarte and Parker hit 3s while Passmore had a steal and driving layup as the Bearcats extended their advantage to 38-25 with 4:19 to go.

Madi Phillips scored to cut the Cougar deficit to 38-32 with 2:39 left, completing a 7-0 run. Lander built its lead to 47-35 at the break, with Passmore scoring the last nine Bearcat points of the half.

Columbus State got as close as seven at 50-43 when Jurnee Smith hit a pair of free throws with five minutes left in the third. But the Bearcats outscored the visiting team 15-7 the rest of the third quarter with Crews scoring the final five points on a 3-pointer and buzzer-beating layup. Lander led 65-50 going into the fourth.

Cange scored twice, Recarte added a bucket, and Hamilton hit a 3 from the right corner, giving the Blue and Gold a 74-51 advantage with 6:58 to go.

Hamilton's second 3 gave the Bearcats an 81-57 lead with 2:03 left, and she added a put-back in the final seconds.

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