PEMBROKE, N.C. | Brianna Baham scored 13 points as the University of North Carolina at Pembroke built up a large lead, but had to hold on for a 63-54 Peach Belt Conference women's basketball victory over Young Harris College Saturday (Jan. 14) afternoon at the Jones P.E. Center.

The Braves improved to 10-4 overall and to 5-2 in the league, while the Mountain Lions are 6-7 and 2-4. It will be a quick turnover for Young Harris as they face Augusta University in a 1:30 p.m. league affair Monday (Jan. 16) in Augusta, Georgia.

UNCP shot 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the field in the second quarter as they outscored the Mountain Lions by 13 points to open up a 44-28 halftime lead. The Braves pushed their advantage to as many as 20 points (50-30) after two free throws by Avery Locklear with 8:28 left in the third quarter,

The Mountain Lions got back into the game as they warmed up from the outside. Meredith Tarver hit back-to-back three pointers, while Sara Jorgensen and Briana Bell also nailed three pointers as the Mountain Lions used a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to close to within 10 points (52-42) with 5:55 to go.

Young Harris wasn't able to cut the deficit into single digits until the fourth quarter. The Mountain Lions got within seven (61-54) points on a Meghan McQuade layup with 2:24 left in the contest. Young Harris held the Braves to just six points in the fourth quarter and without a field goal the final seven minutes of the game.

Bell and Tarver each led the Mountain Lions with 16 points, while Tarver grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Jenny Vernet added nine points before she fouled out and McQuade contributed eight more.

Nyla Allen and Ebone Stevens each finished in double figures for the Braves with 10 points apiecce.