DUE WEST, S.C. - Freshman
Jhnai Sumter made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, pouring in a game-high 27 points as the Lander women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 campaign with an 81-69 victory over longtime rival Erskine on Monday evening inside Belk Arena.
The win marked Lander's 20th straight win over the Flying Fleet, continuing the Bearcats' dominance in the historic rivalry and giving the Blue and Gold a 1-0 start to the season.
Sumter led the offensive charge, shooting an efficient 10-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, while adding six rebounds, six steals and three assists in an impressive all-around debut. She was one of four Bearcats to finish in double figures, joined by returner Kayla Tilus with 17 points, and transfers Kyley Gary-Grayson with 16 and Danai Lewis with 12.
Lander wasted little time establishing its presence, using an aggressive defensive effort to fuel a 28-point opening quarter. After Erskine briefly grabbed a 6-4 advantage, the Bearcats responded with a 19-2 run to build a 23-8 lead with under two minutes remaining. Sumter provided an early spark with 10 first-quarter points as Lander carried a 28-16 advantage into the second period.
The Bearcats continued to control the tempo in the second quarter, holding the Flying Fleet to just 10 points while extending their lead to 43-26 at halftime. Sumter closed the half with back-to-back baskets in the final 65 seconds, giving Lander its largest lead of the night at 17 points.
Erskine refused to go quietly, outscoring Lander 25-14 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 57-51 entering the final 10 minutes. The Flying Fleet capitalized on Bearcat turnovers during the period, scoring 15 points off miscues to climb back into contention.
The hosts continued their push early in the fourth, trimming Lander's lead to just two points at 57-55 with 7:59 remaining. However, the Bearcats responded when it mattered most.
Lewis ended the scoring drought with a layup before Sumter converted a three-point play to push the advantage back to five. Tilus followed with a crucial 3-pointer at 4:27, extending the lead to 65-57 and giving Lander some breathing room.
The Bearcats maintained control down the stretch, with Tilus connecting on another triple with 2:19 remaining to stretch the advantage to 11. Lander outscored Erskine 24-18 in the final quarter to secure the 12-point victory.
Beyond Sumter's breakout performance, Tilus contributed seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Gary-Grayson added five rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Lewis finished with a team-high eight rebounds among Lander's double-digit scorers, while freshman Ava Owens pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, along with five points and three steals.
As a team, Lander shot 48.4% from the field while limiting Erskine to 31.9% shooting. The Bearcats held a 48-40 rebounding advantage and made their presence felt in transition, outscoring the Flying Fleet 28-19 in fast-break points and 42-30 in the paint.
Defensively, Lander recorded 17 steals and forced 22 Erskine turnovers, turning those opportunities into 21 points.
The victory gives Lander an early boost to begin the new campaign while extending one of its longest-running winning streaks against a familiar opponent.
Lander heads to Aiken, S.C., this weekend for the PBC-SAC Crossover, where the Bearcats will face two nationally ranked opponents based on the WBCA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Lander will open the weekend against No. 13 Carson-Newman on Saturday, Nov. 14, before squaring off with No. 9 Lenoir-Rhyne on Sunday, Nov. 15. Both games are slated for 3:30 p.m.
