Lander Athletics
Rixon Lane
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The No. 6-ranked Lander women’s basketball used a double-double from Miriam Recarte and a game-high 20 points from Makaila Cange to beat Georgia College 72-44 on the road Saturday afternoon.
Sarah Crews added 13 points as the Bearcats (6-0, 4-0 PBC) continued their first unbeaten start since 2010-11.
Jaycie Bowen led Georgia College (1-2, 1-2 PBC) with 10 points on the day.
Leading by seven points midway through the second quarter, Lander’s defense held the Bobcats scoreless for the final 5:24 of the first half and took an 11-point lead into the locker room. The Bearcats opened the second half with a jumper from Crews, a steal from Recarte, and a Natalia Crooke three-pointer to extend the lead to 34-18.
Georgia College pulled within 15 in the final minute of the third quarter, but Tyasia Freeman netted back-to-back baskets in consecutive possessions to put Lander up 49-30 entering the fourth quarter.
Crooke opened the fourth quarter with another three-pointer and Amiaya Melvins followed with a three-point play to give the Bearcats a 25-point advantage at the 9:12 mark. Lander’s lead never fell below 23 points in the fourth as the Bearcats notched their fourth consecutive win over Georgia College.
The Bobcats had no answers for Lander’s post play as Recarte tallied her third consecutive double-double with a season-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. Cange’s 20 points tied her career high, while Crooke took advantage of her first collegiate start, dishing a career-high six assists.
Lander travels to Augusta on Wednesday before returning home to host No. 15 North Georgia next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Finis Horne Arena.