GREENWOOD, S.C. | Symone Starks scored 21 points to lead five Lander University women's basketball players in double figures as the Bearcats opened 2019 with an 88-56 Peach Belt Conference victory over Young Harris College Wednesday (Jan. 2) afternoon at the Finis Horne Arena.

Lander improved to 7-4 overall and to 4-1 inside the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 3-8 and 1-4. Young Harris will play a 1:30 p.m. PBC contest Saturday (Jan. 5) against Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina.

The Bearcats scored 11 of the game's first 13 points before the Mountain Lions got within seven (15-8) after Lindsey Caudell sank two free throws with 4:18 to go in the first quarter. Lander led 24-13 at the end of the first 10 minutes before got within six points (26-20) after Dee Dee McLane hit two free throws with 7:39 remaining before the half. However, the Bearcats closed out the second quarter on a 21-6 run to take a 47-30 lead at the break.

Mylea McKenith and Tabitha Dailey each score 15 points for Lander, while Jessica Harris (12) and Amiaya Melvins (11) also finished in double figures. Dailey and Melvins led the Bearcats with eight rebounds each.

Pamela Diokpara, Sarah Woghiren and Grace Isakson led the Mountain Lions with eight points each, while Haylie Shope added seven more. Diokpara led the Mountain Lions with nine rebounds, while Sarah Reid had eight and Jessica Beckner added six more.