#2 Bearcats Down Falcons, 97-68

GREENWOOD, S.C. – The second-ranked Bearcats of Lander University (7-0, 2-0 PBC) downed the University of Montevallo women’s basketball team (2-4, 0-1 PBC) with a dominating first half that gave the Bearcats a 31-point halftime lead. The Falcons out-scored the Bearcats in the second half, 46-44, but it was not enough to erase the large first half deficit. UM was led by junior Shavonne Seymore (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville) who scored 17 points while hitting 7-of-12 from the field.

Junior Tiffany McClure (Montgomery, Ala./G.W. Carver) added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists while hitting 5-of-8 from the field. Senior Carrie Parrott (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Siegel) scored 12 points while grabbing a team-high seven boards. Sophomore Trena Moore-Smith (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) was the only other Falcon in double-digits with 10 points. Senior Jessica Collins (Jackson, Miss./Callaway) had eight points, five assists and five rebounds.

The Falcons shot 39.1 percent in the first half but responded in the second half as they shot 50 percent hitting 17 of their 34 shots. UM continued its strong shooting from the free throw line as the Falcons hit 12-of-14 good for 85.7 percent.

The Bearcats jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead over the first five minutes of play. UM scored its first point at the 15:03 mark as Parrott hit a jumped to cut the Bearcat lead to 13-2. With 4:46 left in the first half the Bearcats led by 19 points but went on a 18-6 run to end the half up 53-22.

The Bearcats used the Falcons 21 first half turnovers to score 27 points while the Falcons scored just three points off turnovers in the first half.

The second half was pretty even for both teams as the Bearcats hung onto their 30-point lead most of the period. LU took its largest lead at the 8:39 mark of the second half as they led by 40. UM was able to cut that lead to just 29 as the time expired, 97-68.

UM cut its turnovers to just eight in the second half and allowed just seven points off turnovers.

The Falcons will return to action Thursday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. as they host Judson College in a non-conference game.