Lander Athletics
Rixon Lane, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The No. 5-ranked Lander women’s basketball team scored 38 points in the paint on Saturday afternoon while rolling to a 65-45 victory at Young Harris in Peach Belt Conference action.
With the win, Lander improves to 9-0 on the season and 7-0 in PBC play. The Bearcats have won 11 in a row over Young Harris, including six straight road wins in the series. Meanwhile, the Mountain Lions fall to 2-3 on the year.
Makaila Cange led the Bearcats with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting. She also recorded 14 rebounds and three steals in 34 minutes of play. Cangé now has six double-doubles in nine games this season.
Zamiya Passmore finished with 14 points, five assists, five steals, and four rebounds. Miriam Recarte added 13 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks in the victory. Amiaya Melvins tallied nine points, five rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
Lander never trailed in the contest, using a 16-3 run in the first quarter to build a 22-8 lead at the 1:28 mark. The Bearcats opened the second quarter with 10 consecutive points to push the lead to 34-10. Despite being held without a field goal over the final four minutes of the first half, Lander took a 40-25 lead into halftime.
Young Harris trimmed the deficit to 11 entering the fourth quarter, but the Bearcat defense held the Mountain Lions to four points on 1-of-11 shooting in the final stanza. An 11-2 run over game’s final eight minutes sealed the victory for Lander.
The Bearcats shot .373 (25-for-67) from the floor, while Young Harris shot at a .333 (16-for-48) clip. Lander held a 41-38 advantage on the boards and outscored the Mountain Lions 38-26 in the paint. Lander scored 29 points off 26 Young Harris turnovers.
Lander returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 3, as the Bearcats host UNC Pembroke at 5:30 p.m. in Finis Horne Arena.