GREENWOOD, S.C. – Freshman Briana Bell and senior Peyton Robertson each scored 16 points as the Young Harris College women's basketball nearly rallied from an 18-point deficit as they fell to No. 24 Lander University 69-63 in a Peach Belt Conference contest Wednesday (Jan. 7) evening at Finis Horne Arena.
The Bearcats won their 12th consecutive game as they improved to 12-2 overall and 5-0 in the conference while the Mountain Lions fell to 4-8 and 1-4. Young Harris returns to the YHC Basketball Arena Saturday (Jan. 10) for a 1:30 p.m. PBC contest against Georgia Southwestern State University.
Young Harris shot a season-best 42.9 percent from the field (27-of-69), while limiting the best shooting team in the Peach Belt to a season-low 29.9 percent (23-of-77). The Mountain Lions, who hit a season-high six three-pointers, held a 51-41 advantage on the glass.
"I know I sound like a broken record, but we are giving ourselves a chance by playing so hard," said Young Harris interim coach Matt Stearsman. "Lander can beat you in many ways and tonight they turned us over and made shots. They deserve all the credit. We are getting better every time out. Our freshman are getting better and our seniors are giving me everything they have. A play here or a play there and it's a different result."
Lander, which scored 17 points off 19 Young Harris first-half turnovers, took its largest lead – 18 points (42-24) – as Ty'hesha Reynolds hit a three-pointer – one of 13 by the Bearcats – with 1:16 remaining, but the Mountain Lions scored the final seven points of the half to trail 42-31 at the intermission.
The Bearcats pushed their lead out to 14 points (52-38) after Ashleigh Zandi, who led Lander with 22 points, with 14:45 remaining. Young Harris clawed back as they used a 12-2 run to get within four points (54-50) after Bell, who set a career high with 16 points, hit one of her four treys.
Bre Cum hit a three-pointer for Lander, which hit more three pointers (13) than two pointers (10), to give the Bearcats a 61-54 lead with 7:04 left. A Robertson jumper in the paint and a three-pointer by Rachel Harrell got the Mountain Lions within two points (61-59) less than a minute later.
However, Aarika Judge quelled the Mountain Lion rally by hitting a three 25 seconds later to give Lander a five-point lead. Young Harris, which only hit two field goals in the final six minutes, couldn't get any closer than three points the rest of the game.
Crum added 16 points for the Bearcats while Reynolds finished with 10. Shereese Williams pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Mountain Lions while Robertson grabbed nine. Harrell finished with 10 points for Young Harris while Williams added nine more.
