GREENWOOD, S.C. - Makaila Cange scored 27 points while
Miriam Recarte and
Aniaya Jester added double-doubles as the second-seeded Lander Bearcats routed seventh-seeded Flagler 107-77 in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals Wednesday evening at Horne Arena.
Lander, ranked No. 6 nationally and second in the Southeast Region, improved to 22-3.
The Saints end their season at 12-17.
Lander has advanced to the PBC Tournament semifinals to be played Saturday. The championship game is Sunday.
The Bearcats have won 16 of their last 17 against Flagler, including the current eight-game winning streak.
The teams met just last Saturday with Lander winning 85-72. But the Bearcats were down 11 early in the second half and needed a 37-13 run to turn that contest around. Wednesday's game was much different.
Cange made 11 of 15 shots from the floor and added eight rebounds, falling just short of a 16th double-double this season.
But Recarte did complete a double-double in resounding fashion, scoring 21 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds while also blocking three shots.
Jester contributed her second consecutive double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. She also led Lander with eight assists and blocked two shots.
Amiaya Melvins added 16 points and seven assists for the Blue and Gold.
Vashae Rideout contributed 11 points while leading the Bearcats with four steals.
Sarah Crews scored seven points and added six assists for Lander.
Tori Pearce paced Flagler with a double-double, scoring 24 points and pulling down 10 boards. Keegan Brace made her first five attempts from behind the arc and finished with 15 points for the Saints.
The Bearcats out-rebounded Flagler 37-25, grabbed 22 offensive boards, and dished out 28 assists.
Unlike last Saturday when the Bearcats fell behind 22-12 in the first quarter, Lander came out hot. Crews and Jester each scored twice in the opening four-plus minutes as the Blue and Gold led 13-2.
After Flagler pulled within 14-6, the Bearcats scored eight unanswered points including a three-point play by Melvins and 3-pointer from Recarte. Lander led 24-8 going into the second period.
Cange made a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Rideout scored in the paint as the Bearcat lead grew to 29-11 with 8:42 left in the half.
Cange's layup gave Lander a 35-16 advantage with 6:21 left while Recarte's bucket made it 43-22 with 4:08 to go.
Brace made a pair of 3-pointers during an 8-0 run as the Saints pulled within 45-32. But the Bearcats scored the final nine points of the half including Jester's 3-pointer with six seconds left to lead 54-32 at the break.
Cange made one of two free throws, extending Lander's advantage to 61-34 with 6:21 left in the third. Rideout's transition layup off Recarte's blocked shot made it 73-44 with 2:35 to go.
The Bearcats scored twice in the last 30 seconds of the third quarter to lead 79-50 going into the fourth. Cange made a reverse layup and Melvins added a driving lay-in.
Cange's mid-range jumper gave Lander an 85-54 advantage at the eight-minute mark. Recarte's free throws made it 90-61 with six minutes remaining.
Recarte swished a 3-pointer from the right side and made a transition layup off a long pass from Carley Culberson for a 99-66 lead with three minutes to go.
Lander hit the century mark on Jakiyah Parker's long 3-pointer, making it 102-71 with 1:19 left.
Cierra Revelle banked in a 3-pointer with 24 seconds to go while Culberson added a driving layup with nine seconds left.
