AMERICUS – The Georgia Southwestern State University women’s basketball team got overwhelmed by Lander University (LU). The Lady Bearcats jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and grabbed total control of the game from there on their way to an 80-52 win over GSW on Monday, February 18, at the GSW Storm Dome.

The Lady Hurricanes were beaten in just about every facet of the game. The biggest category where GSW struggled was turnovers. They turned the ball over 27 times, while LU turned it over 13 times. The Lady Bearcats scored 29 points off turnovers, while the Lady Hurricanes scored 11 points off turnovers. Of any other statistic, that statistic is the most reflective as the Lady Bearcats won by 28 points.

GSW junior Forward Mariya Trimble led the Lady Hurricanes with 11 points and junior point guard Tamecia Blue had seven. The Lady Bearcats had four players in double-figures. Tabitha Dailey led LU with 22 points. Both Mylea McKenith and Jessica Harris each scored 16 points and Symone Starks chipped in 12.

With the loss, the Lady Hurricanes fall to 8-16 overall and 5-13 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Lady Bearcats improve to 19-6 overall and are in first place in the PBC at 16-3.

For the first minute or so, both teams had trouble scoring. However, the Lady Bearcats quickly got it in gear. They stepped up their full-court trap, which caused problems for GSW’s offense. Lander went on a 14-2 run until timeout was called with 4:46 to go in the first quarter. The Lady Bearcats benefited from three-pointers by McKenith and Sarah Crews. They also benefited from several missed outside shots by the Lady Hurricanes. GSW also struggled with turnovers due to the full-court pressure from the Lady Bearcats. By the 6:53 mark of the first quarter, Lander led 24-8.

Another problem the Lady Hurricanes faced against LU was the inability to get back on defense. The Lady Bearcats scored several fast-break points against GSW. Trimble scored with 5:12 to go in the second quarter to give the Lady Hurricanes their first points of the quarter. Trimble scored again with 4:22 left in the half, but GSW was down 32-14.

Freshman point guard Lele Young hit a three-pointer for GSW to cut the deficit to 32-17, but McKenith struck back with a basket of her own to put the Lady Bearcats back up by 17.

Freshman guard Madison Johnson hit a three-pointer for GSW to keep hope alive.

However, as the buzzer sounded to end the first half, Symone Starks hit a three-pointer to give the Lady Bearcats a 43-21 lead at halftime.

This left the Lady Hurricanes with a very tough mountain to climb in the second half.

Lander outscored GSW 8-2 in the first half in fast-break points and scored 15 points off GSW turnovers. GSW turned the ball over 16 times, while LU only had eight turnovers. The Lady Hurricanes were able to score seven points off of the LU turnovers.

The Lady Hurricanes shot 8 for 29 from the field (27.6 percent) and shot 2 for 8 from beyond the arc (25 percent). The Lady Bearcats shot 17 for 34 from the field in the first half (50 percent) and 5 for 13 from beyond the arc (38.5 percent).

The biggest factor as to why LU had such a large lead over GSW at halftime was turnovers. The Lady Hurricanes turned the ball over 16 times in the first half, while the Lady Bearcats turned the ball over only eight times.

Junior shooting guard Brianna Perry scored for GSW to begin the first half. However, the Lady Bearcats went on a 10-0 run to take a 53-24 lead.

Both teams traded baskets during the next minute, but the Lady Bearcats continued their onslaught, forcing a timeout by GSW head coach Kelly Britsky with 5:48 left in the third quarter. By this point, LU had a 59-26 lead.

The Lady Bearcats continued their full-court press, which continued to cause GSW to turn the ball over. Baskets were hard to come by for the Lady Hurricanes in the third quarter. Sophomore forward Tyra Smith was able to score for GSW with less than five minutes left in the third, but LU still had a 61-28 lead.

Out of the timeout, Johnson scored on the inside for GSW, but the Lady Hurricanes still trailed 61-30. GSW freshman guard Lex Chatman hit two three-pointers late in the third quarter to bring the Lady Hurricanes’ deficit to 62-36. GSW was able to keep the deficit from getting worse, and Chatman scored on a layup at the buzzer to bring GSW to within 24 at 64-40 to start the fourth quarter.

However, the Lady Bearcats went on 23-2 run in the final quarter to effectively salt away the game. The Lady Bearcats went on to win 80-52.

The Lady Hurricanes are currently in the midst of a 10-game losing streak. They will try to end that streak when they travel to St. Augustine, FL to take on the Lady Saints of Flagler College on Wednesday, February 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.