ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Lander women's basketball turned in what could be its most complete performance of the season, earning a 68-57 road victory over Flagler (7-9, 2-6 PBC) on Wednesday night.
The Bearcats (5-10, 3-5 PBC) controlled the game from start to finish, leading for more than 38 minutes and silencing the Saints' home crowd with a disciplined, aggressive effort on both ends of the floor. Lander led by as many as 16 in the second half and never relinquished control after taking a 1-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Nine Bearcats scored, showcasing Lander's balance, but freshman
Lauren Crosland headlined the night. Crosland poured in a season-high 18 points to lead Lander, shooting 7-of-12 (58%) from the field and knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.
Quadaija Langley added 15 points, while
Ansley Gartrell chipped in 10 to round out the Blue and Gold's double-digit scorers. Their combined effort helped Lander shoot 40 percent from the field and maintain steady offensive pressure throughout the contest.
Equally important was Lander's improved ball security. The Bearcats committed a season-low 14 turnovers, a point of emphasis for the team in recent weeks, and turned that progress into tangible results. On the other end, Lander's defense delivered a breakout performance, forcing 27 Flagler turnovers and converting them into 26 points.
Alindria Dudley anchored the defensive effort, leading the Bearcats with four steals as Lander finished with 18 total steals on the night. The constant pressure disrupted Flagler's rhythm and limited the Saints to just 10 points off turnovers.
Lander also made its presence felt on the glass, outrebounding Flagler 15-6 on the offensive boards and scoring eight second-chance points. The Bearcats' bench contributed 25 points, further underscoring the team's depth and balance.
Flagler shot 46.3 percent from the field but struggled to overcome its turnover issues and spent less than a minute playing with a lead.
Lander returns home Saturday, Jan. 17, to host Middle Georgia in a conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
