Video published with permission by Rixon Lane, Lander Assistant AD
CLEMSON, S.C. – The Lander women’s basketball team earned a preseason upset over Clemson on Tuesday night in Littlejohn Coliseum as Miriam Recarte sank a jump shot as time expired to give the Bearcats a 74-72 win over the Tigers.
“Your college experience is all about moments,” said head coach Kevin Pederson, “and this is a moment these girls will never forget. I’m so thankful to Amanda Butler and Clemson for giving us this opportunity and I’m so glad these girls got to experience this moment wearing Lander blue and gold.”
Jessica Harris and Zimaya Passmore combined for 48 points in the victory. Harris led all scorers with 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting. The Bearcat defense harassed the Tigers all night, forcing 42 Clemson turnovers, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Passmore netted 18 points while Tabitha Dailey finished with 10 on the night.
Lander held Clemson to just one made field goal over the first 6:15 and lead 10-6 following a layup from Harris with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter. A pair of threes put Clemson ahead, but Harris answered with a trey of her own with 1:15 left in the period to give the Bearcats a 13-12 lead. However, the Tigers closed the quarter with a 6-0 run.
Trailing 41-27 at the half, the Bearcats came out firing from long-distance in the third quarter. Three-pointers from Harris, Passmore, and Recarte spurred a 14-4 Bearcat run to pull Lander within four points. Clemson answered and stretched the lead to 56-48 entering the fourth quarter.
With the Tigers leading 67-55 with 4:02 remaining, the Bearcats embarked on their biggest run of the night. Lander rattled off 15 consecutive points, including eight from Harris, to move ahead 70-67 with 1:24 to go. After Clemson tied the game, Tabitha Dailey‘s two-pointer put Lander back up 72-70 with 41 seconds remaining.
The Tigers netted the tying bucket with 28 seconds left and Lander held for the final shot. Harris’s three from the right corner bounced off the rim and Sarah Crew collected the rebound. Crews turned and dished to Recarte on the left elbow and the sophomore launched the game-winner as time expired, giving Lander the win.
Lander begins the regular season on Friday, Nov. 8, against Lenoir-Rhyne at 5:30 p.m. in Finis Horne Arena.
