NEWBERRY, S.C. - Lander's search for its first win of the season came down to one inch on Tuesday night.
Freshman guard
Lauren Crosland buried a jumper with one second remaining, but her momentum carried her too far over the top of the key, turning what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer into a long two. The bucket left Lander one point shy as Newberry escaped with a 60-59 win in its home opener at Eleazer Arena.
Crosland delivered a career-best 17 points off the bench on 7-for-10 shooting, with two three-pointers, providing the spark that nearly flipped the result in the final minutes. Lander (0-3) also leaned on double-digit efforts from
Quadaija Langley (12 points) and
Trinity Thomas (10).
Beyond the box score, several game-changing details swung the outcome. Lander's bench outscored Newberry's 28-12, a major boost that kept the Bearcats within striking distance throughout. The Bearcats also controlled second-chance opportunities, 13-10, behind a 10-rebound performance from junior forward
Lauryn Hunt. But free throws quietly told the story. Lander shot just 11-for-22 from the line, while Newberry (3-0) went 17-for-25, creating the narrow margin that ultimately decided the night.
Turnovers also became crucial late. Though both teams finished with 10 assists and similar turnover totals, Newberry converted its takeaways into 17 points compared to Lander's 15, a slim two-point difference in a one-point game. In the third quarter alone, the Wolves turned three Lander miscues into eight points, helping them build a lead that carried into the fourth.
Newberry's Rickell Brown led all scorers with 20 points, going 9-for-10 at the line. Marykate Kent added 14 points and hit four of the Wolves' seven 3-pointers.
Lander closed strong with a 19-point fourth quarter, forcing one tie and keeping the Wolves off the board in transition. But after 10 lead changes and a possession-by-possession battle, the Bearcats' final look fell heartbreakingly short.
Lander returns home next week for its long-awaited home opener, hosting Erskine College on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at noon inside
Finis Horne Arena.
