YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Meredith Tarver led Young Harris College with 22 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as the Mountain Lions tipped off its Peach Belt Conference women's basketball schedule with a 69-61 win over the University of South Carolina Aiken Saturday (Dec. 17) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Mountain Lions recorded their third consecutive win as they improved to 5-3 overall and to 1-0 in the PBC, while the Pacers fell to 4-5 and 0-1. Young Harris closes out 2016 with a noon Education Day home game against PBC-foe Francis Marion University Monday (Dec. 19).

Young Harris, which held a 47-46 lead at the end of the third quarter, cranked up its defense over the game's final 10 minute. The Mountain Lions scored 13 points off USC Aiken's six turnovers in the final quarter and limited the Pacers to just 37.5 percent from the floor. 

"I thought our defense in the fourth quarter was tremendous," said YHC head coach Matt Stearsman. "The effort Meredith Tarver and Sara Jorgensen put forth today was remarkable. I can't say enough about how well every player played but that is the best game Sara Jorgensen has played since she came to America. Really proud of her. Feels good to be 1-0, but we need to finish this first PBC weekend off."

USC Aiken took its final lead at 53-52 on a Katie Duff three-pointer with 6:04 to play. The Mountain Lions took the lead for good on a Tarver steal and layup 25 seconds later. Another Pacer turnover and an old-fashioned three-point play from Jenny Vernet to go along with another Tarver steal and layup gave YHC a 59-53 lead with 4:40 to go. 

The closest USC Aiken would get the remainder of the way was four points.

Vernet nearly had a double double of her own as she finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Sara Jorgensen tallied 11 points and six rebounds. Bria Ratliff and Briana Bell each contributed seven points, while Ratliff added six assists. 

Alexis Ware and Emily Tsitouris led the Pacers with 10 points each.