FLORENCE, S.C. – Freshman Jasmine Knight's running layup in the lane right as the final horn sounded gave the Young Harris College women's basketball team a thrilling come-from-behind Peach Belt Conference victory over Francis Marion University 67-65 Saturday (Jan. 17) afternoon at the Smith University Center.
The Mountain Lions won their third consecutive PBC contest as they improved to 7-8 overall and to 4-4 in the Peach Belt while the Patriots slipped to 6-11 and 3-5. Young Harris returns to action Monday (Jan. 19) with a 1:30 p.m. PBC contest against Georgia Regents University Augusta at the YHC Basketball Arena.
With the game tied at 65 after freshman Briana Bell coolly sank two free throws for Young Harris with 33.5 seconds remaining, Francis Marion, which led by as many as eight points in the later stages of the first half, had a chance to retake the lead but Cyerra Mills' three-point attempt hit the top of the backboard and gave the ball to the Mountain Lions with 4.5 seconds left.
After a Francis Marion timeout, Knight took the ensuing inbounds pass and dribbled down the court unabated for the game winner and her only points of the day. The game featured nine lead changes and 11 ties.
"First of all, what a great game to be a part of," said YHC interim head coach Matt Stearsman. "I have so much respect for Coach (Jay) Sparks and what he has done through the years. Our kids kept getting down seven or eight, (points) then we'd battle back.
"To have so many plays made at the end of the game by freshman is amazing," added Stearsman. "We battled and battled and got a great road win. We needed this one and to win the way we did makes it very special."
Francis Marion used a 6-0 run to open a 48-41 lead with 13:43 left in the second half on a Khayani Chandler layup. However, the Mountain Lions scored 11 – six by Kaycee Cash - of the next 12 points over the next four minutes to open up a 52-49 lead after a Shereese Williams layup with 9:02 to play.
From that point, neither team enjoyed more than a three-point the remainder of the game, Francis Marion took a three-point lead at 63-60 after Camille Dash free throw with 2:44 to play. Bell sank a three-pointer to tie the game at 63 before the Patriots took their final lead (65-63) with 55 seconds left on a Chandler jumper.
Peyton Robertson led the Mountain Lions with 14 points while Bell added 13 more. Cash and freshman Rachel Harrell each contributed 11 points as the YHC bench accounted for 32 points. The Mountain Lions held a 35-30 advantage on the glass as Williams pulled down six.
Chandler led the Patriots, who led 37-32 at the half after shooting 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the floor, with 15 points while Mills added 14. Courtney Wood finished in double figures with 11.
