YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The University of North Georgia scored 14 unanswered points midway through the fourth quarter to rally past its cross-mountain rival Young Harris College for a 55-42 Peach Belt Conference women's basketball victory Wednesday (Feb. 3) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena.
 
The Nighthawks improved to 14-8 overall and to 6-7 in the league while the Mountain Lions slipped to 9-11 and 4-9. Young Harris returns to action Saturday (Feb. 6) when they travel to Pembroke, North Carolina, for a 1:30 p.m. contest against the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
 
In a game that saw seven ties and seven lead changes, Young Harris took a three-point lead (36-33) on a Sara Jorgensen jumper in the paint with 5:52 to play. Cierra Johnson responded with an old-fashioned three-point play on the next possession by the Nighthawks to knot the game at 36.  That started the 14-0 run over a nearly two minute stretch that saw North Georgia open a 47-36 lead on a Jackson free throw with 3:46 remaining. The Nighthawks forced the Mountain Lions into four turnovers during the deciding run.
 
The closest the Mountain Lions would get the remainder of the game was 10 points (47-37).
 
"The effort was there," said Young Harris head coach Matt Stearsman. "We played extremely hard. We handled them on the glass, we just couldn't make a shot. It didn't matter if we were two feet away or 22 feet away. Give them a lot of credit, they made plays and we didn't. We just needed some shots to fall and they never did."
 
Neither team shot the ball well. North Georgia shot 32.6 percent (15-of-46) from the field while the Mountain Lions shot 22.9 percent (16-of-70). Young Harris held a 52-43 advantage on the boards.
 
Kelsey Hutchins led North Georgia with 14 points while Jackson added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Molly Rainwater tossed in 12 points for the Nighthawks.
 
Meredith Tarver led Young Harris with 13 points and eight rebounds. Jenny Vernet grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive glass, and added eight points. Jorgensen finished with nine points while Keta Robinette contributed six.