GREENWOOD – No. 20 Lander started off with a strong first half but ultimately fell 16-8 at the hands of Anderson in Thursday evening's women's lacrosse season-opener.
The Bearcats scored three goals in each of the first two quarters and held a 6-4 lead after 30 minutes.
Sophie Warren, freshman
Morgan Hill and
Addi Hazlewood scored in the first quarter.
Caroline Nicholson lofted a pass over-top the defense and Warren buried LU's first goal of the season 5:38 in and evened the game at 1.
Lee transfer
Emelia Tippett found Hill at the 11:09 mark of the first, and Hazlewood later beat the clock expiring when she scored with four ticks left.
Anderson (3-1, 1-0 South Atlantic Conference) pulled to within 3-2 six minutes into the second. Nicholson responded 40 seconds later with a goal on the woman-advantage.
Kayla Smith scored a free-position goal with 2:30 to go in the half that broke a 4-4 tie before Nicholson added her second of the day – also from the free-position – a minute before the intermission.
AU scored the first four goals of the second half to grab an 8-6 advantage. Tippett connected with Hill once again midway through the third to tighten it back to a one-goal affair.
The Trojans answered with five goals to close the quarter with a 13-7 lead.
Hill finished off her hat-trick with a minute to go in the game on a free-position score.
Kaia Morey provided her usual defensive prowess in a performance that consisted of four caused turnovers and three ground balls.
AU held a 28-19 advantage in shots and had 14 shots on goal to LU's seven. The Trojans' Ellie Wilkins had a career day, leading all players with seven goals.
The Bearcats are back in action Sunday (Feb. 15) in a home contest versus Embry-Riddle at 11 a.m.
