MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Young Harris College led wire-to-wire as the Mountain Lions defeated Auburn University at Montgomery 56-36 in a non-conference women's basketball game Monday (Dec. 12) evening at the AUM Gymnasium.
Young Harris, which was playing its first game since Nov. 27, improved to 3-3. The Mountain Lions will travel to Bristol, Tennessee, Wednesday (Dec. 14) for a 1:30 p.m. matinee against Lees-McRae College. The game will be played at King (Tenn.) University's Student Center Complex due to the bleacher renovation project taking place at Lees-McRae's gym. The Warhawks slipped to 1-11.
The Mountain Lions, which never trailed in the game, used a 6-0 run to end the first quarter to open up a 17-7 lead after a steal and a jumper by
Jenny Vernet. Ten of the points scored by the Mountain Lions in the first quarter were off AUM turnovers.
Young Harris, which led 29-21 at the half, limited the Warhawks to single digits in three of the four quarters. The Mountain Lions scored 23 points off 20 Auburn Montgomery turnovers and held a 24-10 advantage in points in the paint as YHC held a 42-31 edge in rebounds. Â The Mountain Lions took their largest lead - 24 points (53-29) - on a
Briana Bell three-pointer with 3:15 to play in the game.
"First of all, it is tough to play against a zone for 40 minutes," said YHC head coach
Matt Stearsman. "When you make shots, you jack them up. When you miss, you tighten up. Our defense was tremendous and we played really hard. We only had two road wins all of last year so it was good to get one!"
Bria Ratliff and Bell led the Mountain Lions with 13 points each while Vernet recorded a double double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Meredith Tarver also scored in double figured with 10 points while
Sara Jorgensen added nine more.
Kaylan Withrow led Auburn Montgomery with 17 points.
