AUGUSTA, Ga. | Augusta University used a 17-4 run at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters to rally past Young Harris College 68-55 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball matinee at the Christenberry Fieldhouse Monday (Jan. 18).
 
The Jaguars improved to 14-4 overall and to 7-2 in the league while the Mountain Lions fell to 7-9 and 2-7. Young Harris will return to the YHC Basketball Arena Saturday (Jan. 23) when they will host Columbus State University at 1:30 p.m.
 
Young Harris scored the game's first 10 points after Jasmine Knight's layup with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter. After Augusta got a jumper by Cynara Pitt, the Mountain Lions scored the next six points to take a 16-2 lead on a steal and layup by Meredith Tarver with 3:22 left.
 
Augusta closed out the quarter on an 8-1 run to get within seven points (17-10). The Jaguars got within a point (23-22) after Kariel Hutt hit two free throws with 2:58 to go in the first half, but the Mountain Lions thwarted the rally as Rachel Harrell nailed a three-pointer on their next possession. Young Harris pushed its lead back to six points (31-25) on a Keta Robinette three-pointer 27 seconds before the half.
 
Augusta took its first lead of the game at 39-38 with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter on a Joshlyn Belcher three-pointer. Young Harris would tie the game at 41 on a Sara Jorgesen three-pointer a minute later. The Jaguars took the lead for good at 43-41 with 3:49 to go on a Kaya Lovett layup. That started the decisive run for Augusta which led 54-44 at the end of the third quarter.
 
The Jaguars led by as many as 17 points (65-48) in the latter stages of the fourth quarter.
 
Breonna O'Conner led Augusta with 15 points while Pitt and Belcher each finished with 12. Kayla Lovett contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.
 
Tarver led the Mountain Lions with a career-high 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field. She also grabbed six rebounds and recorded a career-high six steals. Jenny Vernet, Briana Bell and Harrell each finished with six points while Vernet grabbed eight rebounds.