GREENWOOD –
Quadaija Langley made 13 free throws in the second half as the Lander Bearcats withstood a Clayton State rally and beat the Lakers 79-62 in Peach Belt Conference action Monday afternoon at Horne Arena.
The MLK Day victory improved Lander's record to 5-10 overall, 2-4 in the Peach Belt. It was the Bearcats' second victory over Clayton State in three days. The Lakers fell to 7-8, 2-4.
Lander also won 67-63 at Clayton State in Morrow, Ga., on Saturday.
The Bearcats led 64-41 in the first minute of the fourth quarter Monday before Clayton State scored 15 unanswered points to pull within eight. But a big 3-pointer by
Cory Santoro and clutch free throws from Langley iced the victory.
Langley led all scorers with 20 points, making 13 of 15 free throws.
Tanyia Gordon scored 17 points while leading Lander with four assists.
Tyasia Freeman added 13 points for the Bearcats, making six of 10 shots from the floor. Santoro added 10 points while
Anne Secrest paced Lander with eight rebounds, all on the defensive end.
Raven Riley led Clayton State with 18 points, Jada Moss scored 10 points and Audrey McElhaney added eight points and six steals.
There were 54 turnovers in the game, 29 committed by the Bearcats and 25 by Clayton State.
Gordon made four baskets in the paint while Secrest drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key as Lander led 11-9 after one quarter.
After Clayton State pulled into a 13-all tie, the Bearcats used a 10-2 run to take a 23-15 lead.
Kayla Sanders found Freeman open under the basket for a layup,
Jakiyah Parker hit a turnaround jumper, Freeman and Parker each made driving layups, and Freeman converted another layup off a long pass from Langley.
Langley's 3-pointer from the right corner, Freeman's three-point play, and Santoro's trey from the right side kept Lander out in front. The Bearcats were up 36-25 at halftime.
Gordon's 3-pointer from the left side increased Lander's advantage to 44-27 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.
Gordon made another 3-pointer from the left corner, extending the lead to 49-34 at the 4:50 mark.
Langley hit six of six free throws in the final 1:23 of the third period as the Bearcats led 59-41 going into the fourth.
Lander took its first 20-point lead when Sanders opened the final quarter with two free throws and then Parker made a 3-pointer from the right side, completing an 11-0 run to make it 64-41 with 8:55 left.
Moss made three baskets while Riley and Jada Francois Lubin each scored twice as Clayton State scored 15 unanswered points to pull within 64-56 inside five minutes to go. The Lakers could have cut further into their deficit but went scoreless their next four trips on offense, committing three turnovers.
After being 0-for-4 from the floor with seven turnovers, the Bearcats ended their scoreless run when Langley made two free throws for a 66-56 lead with 2:56 to go.
Santoro made a 3-pointer from the right side, Lander's first field goal in six minutes and 17 seconds, to make it 69-56 with 2:38 left.
McElhaney's steal and basket pulled Clayton State within 69-61 with two minutes to go.
But the Bearcats closed the game with a 10-1 run, including a basket and four free throws from Langley, and a hook shot and free throw by Sanders.
The Blue and Gold are back at home on Wednesday as they welcome the Columbus State Cougars to Horne Arena. That game is scheduled for a 5:30 PM tip-off.
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