YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Jenny Vernet scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Young Harris College women's basketball team defeated Georgia Southwestern State University 53-43 in a Peach Belt Conference game Wednesday (Feb. 17) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena.
 
The Mountain Lions snapped their four-game losing streak as they improved to 10-14 overall and to 5-12 in the conference while the Hurricanes fell to 11-13 and 5-12. Young Harris travels to Morrow, Georgia, for a 3 p.m. PBC encounter Saturday (Feb. 21) against Clayton State University.
 
Young Harris scored 11 unanswered points in the first quarter to open up a 13-2 lead on a Meredith Tarver layup with 3:18 remaining. Georgia Southwestern closed to within a points (19-18) on a Yvonna Dunkley layup with 2:57 left before halftime, but the Mountain Lions got a Tarver layup and a Briana Bell jumper to take a 23-18 lead at the half.
 
The Mountain Lions pushed their lead back to double figures – 10 points (34-24) - on a put back by Vernet with 5:27 left in the third quarter. Young Harris held a 41-27 margin on the glass, including a 17-9 advantage on the offensive boards.
 
Georgia Southwestern pulled within four points (36-32) on a Khayla Owens layup three minutes later, However, Young Harris, which never trailed in the game, scored eight unanswered points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to take a 12-point lead (48-36) on stick back by Vernet, who had 11 offensive rebounds, with 5:49 to play.
 
The closest the Hurricanes would get the remainder of the way was eight points.
 
Vernet got her points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor while Tarver added 15 points and six rebounds. Keta Robinette finished in double figures with 10 points.
 
"We played extremely well tonight," said Young Harris head coach Matt Stearsman. "Jenny Vernet played her guts out as did Keta (Robinette) and Jasmine (Knight). I couldn't be happier for this team. We needed a win and they played focused and together. Meredith (Tarver) was tremendous, Sara Jorgensen was great, and Sarah Garner made some huge plays. Briana (Bell) and Rachel (Harrell) gave us some excellent minutes as well. I'm just so happy for them. This is a fun group to coach."
 
Dunkley led Georgia Southwestern with nine points.