MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Coming into Saturday afternoon's game, the Lander University women's basketball team had yet to lose a conference game. The University of Montevallo gave the Peach Belt leaders a scare in the first half, but the Bearcats eventually pulled away, winning 78-55.
The Falcons opened up the game ready to play with the conference leaders, scoring the first basket after an offensive rebound and a nearly minute long possession.
Whenever Lander would grab the lead, Montevallo would fight back. Nearly midway through the first half, Ellie Mouyal scored five straight points for the Falcons to put the home team back on top. UM took the lead back following a Mouyal steal that lead to a layup through a foul and a made free throw.
Lander and Montevallo would continue to trade leads for the remainder of the half. All told, there were 11 lead changes and seven ties in the first 20 minutes.
The Peach Belt Conference leading Bearcats had an impressive showing off the bench by Portia McCray, who scored 15 of their 33 first half points.
Montevallo's leading scorer, Jacquelyn Thompson, also impressed, making 60% of her three-pointers to pace the Falcons with nine points.
As a team, the Falcons shot 50% in the first half.
In the second half, the size of the Bearcats would prove to be too much for the Falcons, and the visitors would end up leaving Trustmark Arena with a 78-55 win for their eighth straight conference victory.
Thompson would end up with 15 points, making a game-high five three-pointers.
McCray had a double-double for Lander, scoring 20 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
For Montevallo, junior Jasmine Thomas had eight points, converting on more than half of her shots from the floor.
Junior Katherine Goldsby shot 50% from the floor and finished with six points and a team-high six rebounds.
Freshman Katija Tarailo was just behind Goldsby, scoring five points and securing five boards.
Montevallo (1-14, 0-8) has just a day off before they take the court again. USC Aiken will make the trek to Alabama this Monday, January 19, for a 1:30 tip-off.
