BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's basketball team closed out the season series with Lander University on Monday, using a strong later third quarter run to take control and secure a 73–66 victory, completing the season sweep over Lander.
With the win, the Sand Sharks improved to 16-8 overall and 13-4 in Peach Belt Conference play.
USCB was led in scoring by Lydia Gattozzi and Taniyah Bowman, who each finished with 17 points. Janiyah Heyward recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, adding four steals and a block. Bri Pelote was the final Sand Shark in double figures with 10 points.
Lander scored the first six points of the game before Gattozzi stopped the run with her first basket. Sami Bardonaro gave the Sand Sharks their first lead with five straight points, including her first three-pointer, to make it 7-6. The game was tied at 9-9 and twice more before a late Lander run pushed the Bearcats ahead 19-12. Madison Self and Gattozzi combined for the final four points of the quarter as USCB trailed 19-16 after one.
Bardonaro quickly tied the game in the second quarter after a rebound from Heyward led to a three-pointer, giving her eight first-half points. Lander continued to respond each time the Sand Sharks tied the score, maintaining a slight advantage. USCB trailed 32-25 with just under five minutes remaining before an 11-0 run late in the quarter gave the Sand Sharks a 36-32 lead at the break. Heyward scored four straight points to spark the run, and Pelote knocked down the final shot of the half off an assist from Kay'Mar Griffin.
Lander scored first in the third quarter to cut the deficit to one and later regained the lead, pushing the score to 44-40. The Sand Sharks trailed 47-46 before Bowman converted a layup to reclaim the lead at 48-47. She followed with another layup off a Pelote rebound and assist as USCB began a late third-quarter surge. Bowman scored six of the final eight points of the period, sending the Sand Sharks into the fourth quarter with a 56-48 lead—their largest of the game to that point.
Heyward extended the lead to double digits at 58-48 following a Pelote steal. The Sand Sharks maintained control throughout the fourth quarter, with Gattozzi pushing the lead to 11 at 64-53 with 5:22 remaining. Her put-back layup later stretched the advantage to 13 on her 15th point of the night. USCB led by as many as 15 twice in the final three minutes.
Lander attempted a late comeback, trimming the deficit to under 10 in the final minute on a three-pointer. The Bearcats got as close as six points, but Bowman sealed the game at the free-throw line as USCB secured the 73-66 victory.
The Sand Sharks return to action Wednesday evening on the road at Flagler, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m., before returning home Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to face Clayton State in the final regular-season home game.
