GREENWOOD, S.C. -- Turnovers and defensive rebounding proved costly as the eighth-seeded Anderson women's basketball team dropped a 96-55 decision to top seed and 11th-ranked Lander Friday night in the opening round of the 2010 Southeast Regional hosted by the Lady Bearcats at Horne Arena.
Senior guard Shanice Wilson led the Trojans with 16 points, including 12 in the first half, while Ashley Abed added nine points. Junior center Shannon McKever, a first-team All Peach Belt selection, led all scorers with 21 points.
Anderson (20-11) won five straight, including three in the Conference Carolinas Tournament, and 10-of-11 down the stretch to earn its seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but was unable to overcome ball-handling miscues and the Lady Bearcats' inside strength. Lander improved to 26-3 on the season and remained undefeated on its home floor at 12-0.
Lander scored the first basket of the game off the tip and the Trojans fell behind 8-0 in the early going as they committed three costly turnovers in the first two minutes of action. But senior guard Shanice Wilson, the Conference Carolinas Tournament MVP, got Anderson on the scoreboard and personally outscored the Lady Bearcats, 8-2, over the next 30 seconds. Following the 5-foot-9 guard's two free throws at the 15:51 mark that pulled the Trojans back within just two, at 12-10, Lander went on a brief 7-0 run to gain a nine-point advantage, but AU's Ashley Abed and Alissa Diaz dropped in back-to-back baskets to keep the Trojans close.
Offensive rebounding and turnovers over the next three-plus minutes enabled the homestanding Lady Bearcats to open a double-digit lead with 11:0 3 left in the opening half. The deficit grew to as much as 28 points late in the frame as Lander started to connect from beyond the arc and took advantage of 15 first-half turnovers by Anderson, with the halftime margin at 55-27. Lander shot a sizzling 56.4 percent in the opening 20 minutes, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. Lander now faces the winner of the Carson-Newman/Lenoir-Rhyne contest in the semifinals Saturday at 7:30.
