GREENWOOD – WyKira Johnson-Kelly's (Franklinville, N.J.) 3-pointer from near mid-court at the buzzer helped the Lander Bearcats wipe out a 12-point deficit over the final 1:45 of regulation to force overtime as they outlasted Peach Belt Conference rival Georgia Southwestern 74-70 Saturday afternoon at Horne Arena.
Lander improved to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in the Peach Belt, handing the Hurricanes only their second loss of the season. Georgia Southwestern fell to 8-2, 1-1.
Johnson-Kelly led the Bearcats with a season-high 27 points on eight of 11 shooting from the floor and nine of 14 free throws. She scored 26 of her points after halftime including a total of 19 in the fourth quarter and overtime. But none of her shots were bigger than the miraculous heave that forced OT.
The Hurricanes had just made one of two free throws, taking a 63-60 lead with three seconds left. Lander's Tanyia Gordon (Plant City, Fla.) inbounded the ball to Johnson-Kelly, who dribbled across the center line, found a spot between the edge of the Bearcat logo and left sideline and swished a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
The Bearcats quickly fell behind by five points in overtime but outscored the visitors 11-2 over the final three minutes, with Johnson-Kelly scoring seven of those 11 points.
Quadaija Langley (Travelers Rest, S.C.) added 12 points and three steals in the game for Lander. Gordon contributed nine points, six rebounds and three steals for the Bearcats. Ashley Tucker (Buffalo, N.Y.) also scored nine for Lander.
Ndidiamaka Ndukwe paced Georgia Southwestern with 20 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Destiny Garrett had 16 points and four assists for the Hurricanes while her teammate Jashanti Simmons had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Leah Johnson added 10 rebounds before fouling out.
Lander won despite being out-rebounded 51-31 and struggling from the free-throw line. The Bearcats hit only 21 of 35 free throws but made seven of 10 in overtime.
The Hurricanes made seven of their first 10 shots from the floor and led 15-6 late in the first quarter. Lander ended a five-plus minute scoring drought on Tucker's transition layup with 41 seconds left to pull within seven. Georgia Southwestern led 17-9 going into the second period.
Langley's 3-pointer from the left corner pulled the Bearcats within 19-13 with 6:51 left in the half. It was Lander's first make in six attempts from behind the arc.
Abby Carter (Geneva, Ohio) made a spin move in the lane, hitting a shot off the glass that pulled the Bearcats within 23-18 with 2:21 to go.
Garrett gave the Hurricanes their first double-digit lead at 28-18 with one minute left on a basket in the lane. Georgia Southwestern led 30-18 at halftime.
Garrett's basket in the paint gave the Hurricanes their largest lead of the game at 33-20. But Carter made a 3-pointer that pulled Lander within 33-23 with eight minutes left in the third quarter, starting a 17-5 run.
Gordon scored on consecutive possessions to cut the Bearcat deficit to 34-27.
Johnson-Kelly's 3-pointer and several free throws including three by Cory Santoro (Bellevue, Ohio) pulled the Blue and Gold within 38-37 with one minute left in the third.
Georgia Southwestern clung to a 41-37 advantage going into the final period.
Johnson-Kelly's two free throws cut Lander's deficit to 43-41 with 9:10 left in the game. But Kayhla Adams made a 3-pointer with 6:52 to go, increasing the Hurricane lead to 52-43.
Garrett's layup with 4:10 left was Georgia Southwestern's seventh made shot out of eight attempts in the quarter, putting the visitors back into a double-digit lead at 56-46. The visitors led 60-48 inside two minutes to go.
Langley made a 3-pointer, then collected a steal and layup during a personal 5-0 run pulling the Blue and Gold within 60-53 with one minute left. There was still much more work to do.
Johnson-Kelly found Tucker open for a layup as the Bearcats were within 60-55 with 30 seconds to go.
Lander's comeback continued as Johnson-Kelly's layup cut Lander's deficit to 61-57. And then Johnson-Kelly stole the inbounds pass and found Tucker for a layup making it 61-59 with 14.4 seconds to go.
Ndukwe made one of two free throws giving the Hurricanes a 62-59 advantage with 13 seconds left.
Johnson-Kelly attacked the basket, was fouled and made one of two free throws cutting the Bearcat deficit to 62-60 with 10 seconds to go.
Lander forced a jump ball on the Georgia Southwestern inbounds attempt and had the possession arrow, giving the hosts a chance to tie or take the lead. But the Bearcats missed an opportunity to tie by missing two free throws with four seconds left.
The Hurricanes then had a chance to put the game away, but Simmons made just one of two free throws for a 63-60 lead setting up Johnson-Kelly's miracle shot.
Kori Tomlin made a 3-pointer and Ndukwe scored as Georgia Southwestern tallied the first five points of overtime, giving the visitors a 68-63 lead.
Johnson-Kelly took back over again, driving in for a layup cutting the deficit to three. After Alicia Burgos (Milwaukee, Wisc.) got a block and defensive rebound for Lander, she handed the ball off to Johnson-Kelly who drove the length of the floor for a layup pulling the Bearcats within 68-67.
Johnson-Kelly and Langley each made one of two free throws, giving Lander a 69-68 advantage with 1:35 to go.
Lexi McCully's layup put the Hurricanes back on top. Then Johnson-Kelly made two free throws giving the Blue and Gold a 71-70 advantage with 32 seconds left.
Georgia Southwestern's McCully drove inside for a layup attempt but missed the rim completely. Gordon grabbed the defensive board, flipped the ball to Langley who got fouled and hit both free throws making it 73-70 with 14 seconds to go.
Adams attempted a game-tying 3-pointer from the right corner but shot an air ball which was again grabbed by Gordon, who was fouled and made one of two free throws with seven seconds left.
Garrett drove to the basket and Gordon blocked her shot to punctuate the comeback victory.
Lander hits the road for two PBC contests next week against USC Beaufort on Wednesday and Clayton State on Saturday.
