GREENWOOD – Quadaija Langley hit a pair of late 3-pointers to give the Lander Bearcats the lead, but USC Aiken scored six unanswered points in the final minute for a 67-60 Peach Belt Conference victory Wednesday night at Horne Arena.
 
Lander fell to 3-8 overall, 0-2 in the Peach Belt. The Pacers are 8-5, 2-1.
 
Tanyia Gordon led Lander with 14 points, making seven of 11 shots from the floor while grabbing eight rebounds. Langley added 11 points for the Blue and Gold.
 
Anne Secrest scored nine points for the Bearcats on four of six shooting while Tyasia Freeman paced Lander with nine rebounds.
 
Jentri Worley led USC Aiken with 19 points and five assists. Annalise Malone scored 18 points for the Pacers.
 
Emily Trushel added 15 points while leading USC Aiken with seven rebounds. Her twin sister Delaney Trushel added six points.
 
There were four ties and seven lead changes in the first quarter, which ended with USC Aiken leading 15-13. Gordon scored twice for the Bearcats in the opening frame while Cory Santoro hit a 3-pointer.
 
After a layup by Secrest produced the sixth tie of the game to bring Lander even at 17-all early in the second, the Pacers went on an 11-2 run. Breanna Gustave's bucket capped the run, giving USC Aiken a 28-19 lead inside the two-minute mark.
 
The Bearcats scored the last two baskets of the half to pull within 28-23 at the break. Gordon drove around a pair of defenders for a layup and then Kayla Sanders made a spin move in the lane and scored with two seconds left.
 
The Trushel twins each scored in the opening minute of the second half as the Pacers increased their lead to 32-23. But Lander responded with a 9-0 run, delivering the seventh tie at 32-apiece. Langley hit a 3-pointer from the right corner, Santoro swished a mid-range jumper, and Secrest and Sanders made baskets inside.
 
Vashae Rideout's three-point play pulled the Bearcats into a 40-all tie with 1:24 left in the third. USC Aiken led 42-40 going into the final period.
 
The Pacers opened the fourth with an 11-5 run, building a 53-45 advantage with 6:20 left on Malone's basket.
 
Secrest hit a 3-pointer to cut Lander's deficit to 53-48 while Gordon's bucket sliced it to 55-50 just inside the five-minute mark.
 
The Bearcats cut their deficit to two after Santoro saved a loose ball from going out of bounds for an offensive rebound, leading to Langley's 3 from the left wing making it 55-53 with 3:18 to go.
 
Lander took its first lead of the second half after Freeman blocked a shot. Langley made the go-ahead 3-pointer from the right corner, giving the hosts a 56-55 advantage with 2:31 left.
 
Worley and Gustave made baskets, putting the Pacers back on top 59-56. But Santoro pulled the Bearcats within 59-58 with a pair of free throws with 1:06 to go.
 
Gordon fought for a loose ball, getting Lander the ball back on the possession arrow with 45 seconds left and a chance to take the lead. But the Bearcats missed a shot inside.
 
Malone scored on a layup with 22 seconds left while Worley and Emily Trushel each added a pair of free throws to extend USC Aiken's lead to 65-58.
 
Gordon scored with seven seconds to go for Lander's final points.

The Bearcats conclude their three game home stretch on Saturday as they welcome #15 North Georgia to Horne Arena. That game is scheduled for a 1:30 PM

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