AMERICUS, Ga. | Jasmine McSwain led Georgia Southwestern State University with 15 points as they held off Young Harris College 59-53 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Saturday (Jan. 9) afternoon at the Storm Dome.
 
The Hurricanes improved to 7-6 overall and to 1-5 in the Peach Belt while the Mountain Lions fell to 7-5 and 2-4. Young Harris travels to Montevallo, Alabama, for a 5:30 p.m. Central time contest Wednesday (Jan. 13) against the University of Montevallo,
 
After the teams were tied at 12 at the end of the first quarter. Georgia Southwestern took the lead for good at 15-12 on a McSwain three-pointer with 6:21 remaining in the half. Young Harris got a layup from Jenny Vernet to close within a point, but the Hurricanes reeled off nine unanswered points to open up a 24-14 lead on another McSwain three-pointer with 1:51 left.  The Mountain Lions were held to 2-of-14 shooting in the second quarter as Georgia Southwestern led 24-16 at the half.
 
"This is the first time all year we have been obliterated on the glass," said Young Harris head coach Matt Stearsman. "They had a stretch where they wanted it more. They made the open looks they got and we didn't. I would say we missed 10 shots at the front of the rim that we normally make. But their ability to offensive rebound killed us."
 
The Mountain Lions opened the second half with a Sarah Garner jumper and a three-pointer by Briana Bell on their first two possessions to cut the deficit to three points (24-21), but the Hurricanes opened up an eight-point advantage (33-25) after Yvonna Dunkley grabbed an offensive rebound and sank a three-pointer with 6:30 left in the third quarter.
 
Young Harris scored the next seven points to get within a point (33-32) as Bell hit a three-pointer and added two free throws and Meredith Tarver nailed a jumper with 4:13 to go. However, Georgia Southwestern thwarted the YHC rally by scoring the game's next 10 points to take a 43-32 lead on a Dunkley three-pointer with 1:46 left in the third quarter.
 
The closest the Mountain Lions would get would be three points (53-50) on a Tarver three-pointer with 74 seconds remaining in the contest.
 
Ja'Quasha Sesler added 12 points for the Hurricanes while Dunkley finished with 10. Aleah Holden grabbed 11 rebounds for Georgia Southwestern.
 
Tarver led Young Harris with 17 points while Vernet added 10. Bell and Sara Jorgensen each tossed in nine more. Jasmine Knight, Tarver and Vernet each grabbed six rebounds.