GREENWOOD -- A thrilling matchup ended in heartbreak Wednesday evening as the Sand Sharks had the ball in the final seconds, but the basket didn't fall and USCB lost 66-64 in overtime to Lander inside the Finis Horne Arena.
Sheridan Bostic had another stellar performance dropping a game-high 19 points, knocking down five three-pointers, while Lydia Gattozzi posted her first double-double with 14 points and game-best 11 boards and Janiyah Heyward found her groove in the second half, scoring all 10 of her points in that span while also grabbing eight rebounds. Arie'a Garret added nine points and six caroms off the bench in 27 minutes of action.
The game was scoreless through the first two-plus minutes, but Lander secured the first bucket. Both teams struggled from the field early combining for just three baskets prior to the media timeout. Bartelt got USCB on the board with a floater from the elbow and Bostic stayed hot from beyond the arc, knocking down a three-pointer to give the Sand Sharks the lead. Turnovers hurt both Beaufort and Lander throughout the early portion of the contest and the score was knotted at nine after the first quarter.
Lander opened the second period on a 6-0 run forcing head coach Sharon Versyp to call a timeout. USCB went cold after Taniyah Bowman's basket in the first quarter and Lander's offensive flow picked up as the quarter progressed and the Bearcats jumped out to a 24-9 lead. Bostic ended the scoring drought with a three-pointer and Gattozzi's jumper made it a 10-point game. Two more baskets from Lander made it a 28-14 game at the half.
Bartelt and Gattozzi scored the first two buckets as the second half started, trimming the lead to single digits. Lander answered with its first three-pointer of the night and then followed with two from the charity stripe. Bostic's three-pointer from the wing made it 33-25 and as the quarter continued USCB battled back to within seven after Gattozi offensive board and put back. Garrett was pure from the free throw line, trimming the Bearcats lead to five. The Sand Sharks broke the press, and a quick five-point swing made it a one-possession game after three quarters. USCB outscored Lander 26-14 during the third period.
The Bearcats opened on a 6-1 run in the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter, but Janiyah Heyward's driving score and midrange jumper made it a one-point game. A three-ball from Quadaija Langley pushed the Bearcat's lead back up to six. Gattozzi converted an and-one making it a three-point game with under two minutes to play and Bostic knocked down her fifth three-pointer of night to tie the game at 57 as the clock ticked under a minute. Heyward's step-back jumper from the free-throw line put the Sand Sharks up two with 37 seconds remaining. USCB had the chance for a buzzer beater, but the three-pointer missed the mark, and the game went to overtime with the score tied at 59.
Heyward scored the first bucket in the OT period, but the Bearcats answered with two from the free throw line and a floater from Shcira Fowles gave LU the lead. A driving layup put Lander up by two-possessions. Garrett made it 65-64 with under 30 seconds to play, but Gattozzi's last second chance shot didn't fall, and the Bearcats held on for the win.
USCB's PBC road trip continues Saturday against Georgia Southwestern. Tipoff from Americus is set for 5:30 p.m. and can be seen live on the PBC Sports Network.
