GREENWOOD – Quadaija Langley (Travelers Rest, S.C.) matched her career-high of 23 points while Tanyia Gordon (Plant City, Fla.) added 21 as the Lander Bearcats earned their seventh consecutive victory, beating Columbia College 89-61 Friday evening at Horne Arena.
Lander improved to 7-2 on the season. The Koalas fell to 8-6.
It was only their second meeting since 1988 as Lander holds a 16-2 all-time record versus Columbia College.
Langley scored 23 points on seven of 10 shooting from the floor, led the team with six assists and added six rebounds and two steals.
Gordon scored 21 points on nine of 15 shooting while leading the Bearcats with seven rebounds and three steals. She also had four assists.
WyKira Johnson-Kelly (Franklinville, N.J.) added 13 points for Lander. Ashley Tucker (Buffalo, N.Y.) scored 10 points, making four of five shots for the Bearcats.
Tysonia Lowe paced the Koalas with 17 points on seven on 10 shooting from the floor, while also leading all rebounders with eight.
Anaya Muhammad scored 16 points for Columbia College while Carnasia Wells added 11 points.
Lander shot 47 percent from the floor (31 of 66) and forced 22 turnovers.
After building a 13-0 lead against Erskine in their last game on Monday, the Bearcats took an 11-0 lead against Columbia College.
Langley opened the game with a 3-pointer from the right corner, Abby Carter (Geneva, Ohio) sank a trey from the left corner, Johnson-Kelly drove around the defense for a layup, and Lander added three of four free throws making it 11-0 with 7:35 left in the first quarter.
Muhammad made a floater in transition pulling the Koalas within 13-7 with 4:35 to go. But Langley answered with a floater in the lane and then Aaliyah Bell (Pooler, Ga.) made a mid-range jumper off Langley's steal increasing the Bearcat lead back into double digits.
Gordon swished a mid-range jumper and Langley added another 3-pointer, helping extend Lander's lead to 23-13 after one quarter.
Muhammad's 3-pointer from the top of the key cut Columbia College's deficit to only 27-21 with 6:53 left in the half.
The Bearcats extended their lead again as Gordon scored once and assisted Tucker on two more baskets making it 35-24 with 4:10 to go. Tucker scored again and Gordon added a steal and driving layup helping Lander build a 40-30 halftime lead.
The Koalas pulled within 42-35 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. The Bearcats used the 3-pointer to begin pulling away. Langley made a pair and Amani Melendez (Woodbridge, Va.) added one as the lead grew to 58-43.
Lander led 60-47 going into the final quarter.
Johnson-Kelly opened the fourth period with a three-point play, Carter scored inside, Langley made a mid-range jumper and Johnson-Kelly added a driving layup extending the Bearcat lead to 69-52 with 7:15 to go.
Gordon made a long jump shot, then collected a steal and drove in for a layup giving Lander a 73-56 advantage at the four-minute mark.
Melendez made a 3-pointer and Gordon and Alicia Burgos (Milwaukee, Wisc.) scored as the Bearcat lead continued to grow. The final margin of 28 points was Lander's largest lead.
