Women’s basketball drops exhibition to No. 10 South Carolina:
The Lander women’s basketball team scored 41 first-half points and trailed 10th-ranked South Carolina by just 10 points at halftime before falling to the Gamecocks, 100-62, in an exhibtion game on Friday night in Colonial Life Arena.
The Bearcats, playing their second Division I opponent in six days, became the first team to break 60 points against the Gamecocks in an exhibition since 2008 and played South Carolina to its closest exhibition contest since 2011.
Jessica Harris led the Bearcats with 15 points, while Quin’De’Ja Hamilton and Symone Starks each finished with 11 points on the night. Tabitha Dailey pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and Sarah Crews led the Bearcats with three assists.
Te’a Cooper tallied 20 points to lead South Carolina, while Victaria Saxton finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Gamecocks. Tyasha Harris added 16 points, while Destanni Henderson scored 13 points.
Lander never trailed by more than 10 in the first quarter and a three-pointer by Hamilton at the 7:43 mark of the second quarter capped a 10-2 run that pulled the Bearcats to within five points. Lander trailed 51-41 at halftime after shooting 48.5 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
For the game, the Bearcats were 24-of-61 from the floor (39.3 percent), including 7-of-21 threes (33.3 percent) and 7-of-10 free throws (70.0 percent).
South Carlina went 36-of-86 from the field (41.9 percent), going 7-of-3o from beyond the arc (23.3 percent). The Gamecocks were 21-of-28 (75.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Lander begins its season on Friday, Nov. 9, when the Bearcats face Lenoir-Rhyne in the PBC/SAC Challenge in Jefferson City, Tenn., at 5:00 p.m.
