Turnovers Doom Lady Pirates In 85-71 Loss At Lander

GREENWOOD, S.C. - Lander University forced 21 turnovers, converting them into 33 points in handing the Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball squad an 85-71 Peach Belt Conference loss on Saturday afternoon in Greenwood, S.C.

The Lady Pirates (11-5, 6-3 PBC) and the Bearcats (10-6, 5-4 PBC) each shot 47 percent from the field, but Lander converted 15 more shot attempts into seven more field goals - the 14-point difference in the victory. Lander halted its two game slide, while AASU dropped its third game in its last four contests.

The two teams were tied, 30-all, late in the first half, but Lander ended the half on a 17-5 run to take a 47-35 lead into halftime. The Lady Pirates cut the lead to five, 49-44, on an Ashley Duhart basket with 16:58 remaining, but Lander used a 7-0 run to increase the gap back to double-digits, where it stayed for the rest of the game.

Senior Lacey Willis, returning to the scene of her career-high 35-point game last season against the Bearcats, led a quartet of AASU players with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Lindsey Holmes hit 4-of-8 three-pointers en route to 14 points, while Dartayvia Thomas and Portia Jones each chipped in 10 points apiece.

Lander was led by Clara Lyons' 17 points, Jasmine Judge's 16 points and a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds from Shannon McKever.

The Lady Pirates return to action on Wednesday, January 28, with a 5:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference contest against No. 24-ranked Clayton State at Alumni Arena.