RICHMOND, Ky. | The Young Harris College women's basketball team nearly overcame a 21-point second half deficit but NCAA Division I's Eastern Kentucky University was able to hold on for a 65-61 exhibition victory over the Mountain Lions Saturday (Nov. 5) evening at Paul McBrayer Arena.

The Mountain Lions wrap up their exhibition schedule with a 7 p.m. contest Friday (Nov. 11) in Cullowhee, North Carolina, against NCAA Division I's Western Carolina University.

Eastern Kentucky took its largest lead at 45-24 on Alexus Cooper's three-pointer with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter. The Mountain Lions trimmed the deficit to 14 points (55-41) at the end of the quarter on Dyiesha Brown's old-fashion three-point play.

The Mountain Lion defense stiffened in the fourth quarter, limiting the Colonels to just 14.3 percent shooting (2-of-14) from the floor. Eastern Kentucky extended their lead to 18 points (59-41) on a Jalen O'Bannon 69 seconds into the quarter before Young Harris rallied.

The Mountain Lions still trailed by 14 points (61-47) on two free throws by Ja'Lyn Brooks with 6:06 to go. Young Harris then held the Colonels without a point for nearly the next six minutes as they pulled to within one point (61-60) on back-to-back three pointers by Briana Bell and Bria Ratliff with 61 seconds left. Eastern Kentucky was able to thwart the threat as O'Bannon sank four free throws in the final eight seconds.

"Eastern Kentucky was picked preseason No. 3  in the OVC (Ohio Valley Conference) and returned the preseason player of the year," said Young Harris head coach Matt Stearsman. "We did a lot of great things tonight once we adjusted to their pressure. I like how hard we play and you can't tell if we are up 20 or down 20. We defended really well and put ourselves in position to win the game and just came up short."

O'Bannon, who went 8-of-11 from the floor, led the Colonels with 21 points while Cooper tossed in 16.

Ratliff, who went 9-of-13 from the field, lead all scorers with 24 points. Ratliff, who hit three of four shots from long distance, added four assists. Jenny Vernet and Brown added nine points while Bell added eight more. Vernet grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds while Meredith Tarver had eight. Sara Jorgensen had six points and dished out five assists.