HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lander women’s basketball team forced 29 turnovers and held Carson-Newman to just nine fourth quarter points as the Bearcats toppled the Eagles, 68-53, on Saturday afternoon during the second day of the Peach Belt/South Atlantic Challenge.
Lander improves to 1-1 overall, while Carson-Newman slips to 1-1.
Jessica Harris led the Bearcats with 19 points, while Ty’hesha Reynolds added 13 points. Breshay Johnson finished with nine points, nine rebounds and threeassists.
Carson-Newman’s Kailyn Brooks led the Eagles with 12 points, while Tatum Burstom had 10 points and seven rebounds on the day.
The Eagles led 14-11 after the first quarter by connecting on 75 percent of their shots, including a pair of threes. Lander rallied to take an eight-point lead midway through the second quarter and the Bearcats withstood a late Eagle rally to take a 30-26 lead into halftime.
Lander opened the second half on a 13-4 run to extend the lead to 13 points and a Harris buzzer-beater to end the third quarter gave the Bearcats a 51-44 advantage.
A 12-0 Lander run to begin the fourth quarter was too much for Carson-Newman to overcome, as the Bearcats held on for the 68-53 victory.
Lander won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Eagles, 47-35.
For the game, the Bearcats connected on 22-of-68 field goals (32.4 percent), including 6-25 threes (24.0 percent), and 18-of-29 free throws (62.1 percent).
Carson-Newman made 20-of-47 floor shots (42.6 percent), including 5-of-16 threes (31.3 percent), and 8-of-10 foul shots (80.0 percent).
The Bearcats will travel to Converse College next weekend for the Courtyard Clash.
