AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Lander Women's Basketball team pulled within three late but several possessions extended by offensive rebounding proved to be the difference as the Augusta Jaguars were able to pull away to hand the Bearcats their third straight loss by a score of 60-54.

Anne Secrest led the way with 12 points while being perfect from beyond the arc until late in the game, finishing 3-4 from three. Tyasia Freeman had nine points as well as four rebounds. Tanyia Gordon led the way on the boards as she grabbed seven rebounds. 

Lander grabbed a 2-0 lead early but Augusta would counter with an 8-0 run to open the game. The Bearcats would eventually settle in and a three-pointer from Cory Santoro and a jumper from Secrest would help pull the Bearcats to within two as the first quarter came to a close.

The second quarter was once again a back-and-forth affair. Augusta would extend their lead to seven but a three-pointer from Secrest and a bucket from Kayla Sanders would see that lead cut back down to one possession. Augusta would try to grab some momentum into halftime as they had a quick 4-0 run but Jakiyah Parker had different plans as she hit a three-pointer with just over 30 seconds left to keep the Bearcats within one possession heading to the locker room.

A layup from Sanders to open the third followed by a three-pointer from Quadaija Langley would pull the Blue and Gold even but Augusta would get four straight points to take the lead back. However, Tanyia Gordon would hit back-to-back buckets to bring the two squads even once again. The game of runs would continue as the hosts would stretch the lead back to six but a 7-0 run from the Bearcats capped by a Gordon layup would give the Bearcats their first lead since their first possession of the game at 41-40. The lead was short-lived, however, as Augusta would hit a bucket to send them to the fourth quarter with a 42-41 lead.

The fourth quarter was where the difference in the game showed on the offensive boards as both teams were even on the boards defensively but Augusta would triple the Lander offensive rebounding number resulting in 14-second chance points. Three of those rebounds would come on a single possession that ended in an Augusta three-point basket.

The start of the fourth quarter was slow offensively as the Bearcats would be held scoreless for almost six minutes of game time from the Gordon bucket that gave them the lead, however, Augusta couldn't capitalize and only opened the lead to 46-41 before a Langley bucket would snap the cold spell. The Jaguars would get the lead back out to seven at 50-43 before Anne Secrest's third three-pointer of the game would cut that lead back down to four. Lander would force a turnover with a chance to cut into the lead further but would turn the ball over themselves. Both teams would exchange layup misses and Augusta would hit a three-pointer after four offensive rebounds in a possession that lasted over 75 seconds of game time. Jakiyah Parker, however, would answer in kind with a three from the top of the key to keep the Bearcats in the game and Secrest would hit another three to bring Lander within three with 1:10 left. However, with the Bearcats over the limit, the game would come down to the free throw line where Augusta would go 5-8 but the Bearcats couldn't respond as a pair of Langley free throws would be their final buckets of the game to close out the 60-54 scoreline.

Lander hits the road again in PBC play as they travel to Clayton State on Saturday for a 1:30 PM tip-off before hosting the Lakers in Horne Arena on Monday for another 1:30 tip off.