GREENWOOD – The Lander Bearcats fell behind by double digits in the first quarter and never recovered, losing to Peach Belt Conference rival Augusta 71-54 Wednesday night at Horne Arena.
Lander fell to 16-9 overall, 9-6 in the Peach Belt. The Bearcats stayed in fourth place in the PBC standings, one game ahead of North Georgia.
The Jaguars improved to 18-7, 12-3 in the PBC. They trail league leader Georgia Southwestern by one game.
Quadaija Langley paced the Bearcats with 18 points, making five of seven shots from behind the 3-point arc.
WyKira Johnson-Kelly scored 17 for Lander.
Tomiyah Alford led Augusta with 18 points and nine rebounds. Kennedi Manning added 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Jaguars. Autumn Phillips also scored 10 points for the visitors.
Augusta made its first 16 free throw attempts and finished 17 for 20 at the stripe.
The Jaguars made 25 of 48 shots from the floor (52 percent) to 19 for 51 (37 percent) for Lander.
Augusta made eight of its first 13 shots from the floor while the Bearcats started the game hitting only two of 12. That was reflected on the scoreboard where the Jaguars led by as many as 13 in the opening quarter.
Lander trailed 19-8 going into the second period.
Langley almost single-handedly brought the Bearcats back into the game. She made three 3-pointers in the opening three minutes of the second quarter, cutting Lander's deficit to 27-19.
Johnson-Kelly's 3-pointer with the shot clock about to expire pulled the Bearcats within 27-23 with 4:27 left in the first half. That was as close as the game would get.
Lander went scoreless the rest of the half, missing its last six shots. Augusta added an Alford layup and Phillips 3-pointer for a 32-23 lead at the intermission.
Alford scored three times while Kalen Surles added a 3-pointer as the Jaguars opened the second half with a 15-4 run, taking a 47-27 advantage with 5:23 left in the third quarter.
The Bearcats made up some ground, closing the period with a 12-5 run to close within 52-39 going into the final quarter. Ashley Tucker made an open layup and a put-back, Amani Melendez converted a driving layup, Langley swished a 3-pointer, and Tucker added one free throw for the 12 points.
Langley's basket in the opening minute of the final quarter cut Lander's deficit to 11. But Augusta scored the game's next 12 points, building its largest lead of the night at 64-41 with 4:35 left.
The Jaguars expanded their lead to 70-43 with 2:47 to go on Malia Grace's layup.
The Bearcats scored the next 11 points as Courtney Nesbitt made a 3-pointer and pair of free throws, Langley swished her fifth 3-pointer, and Tanyia Gordon converted a three-point play.
Lander will conclude their home slate on Saturday as they face the Columbus State Cougars for a 1:30 PM tip-off. Senior Day festivities are scheduled for before the game.
