YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Kenisha Jones-Barrett scored 15 points as Clayton State University snapped Young Harris College's four-game winning streak with a 66-58 Peach Belt Conference women's basketball decision over the Mountain Lions Saturday (Jan. 2) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.
 
The Lakers improved to 9-1 overall and to 3-0 in the Peach Belt while Young Harris fell to 7-3 and 2-1. The Mountain Lions travel to Dahlonega, Georgia, Monday (Jan. 4) for a 5:30 p.m. PBC encounter against cross-mountain rival University of North Georgia.
 
Young Harris jumped out to a 12-7 lead on an old-fashioned three-point play from Sarah Garner with 4:17 left in the first quarter. A Jasmine Knight jumper with 8:16 remaining in the first half before the Lakers rallied. Clayton State reeled off nine unanswered points to open up a 29-19 lead on a steal and a layup by Tierra Johnson with 2:45 to play.
 
The Mountain Lions responded by scoring the final seven points of the first half to get within three points (29-26) at halftime on a Jada Williams layup with eight second remaining.
 
The Lakers started the third quarter on an 11-4 run to open up a 40-30 lead on an Andrea Benford jumper in the paint with 5:23 left. The Mountain Lion got as close as five points (40-35) on a Jenny Vernet three-point play three minutes later, but Clayton State pushed back its advantage to 11 points (50-39) at the end of the period.
 
The Lakers would lead by as many as 15 points in the final quarter. Johnson added 12 points for Clayton State while Benford added 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Briana Bell paced the Mountain Lions with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field while Garner added 10 points and four steals. Meredith Tarver and Vernet each finished with eight points and five rebounds.