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YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Alyah McGriff scored 30 points off the bench as Georgia College held off Young Harris College 57-54 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Wednesday (Jan. 25) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Bobcats improved to 11-5 overall and to 5-4 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 7-9 and 3-6. Young Harris returns to action Saturday (Jan. 28) when they host Clayton State University in a 1:30 p.m. PBC contest.

Young Harris got off to a quick start as the Mountain Lions jumped out to a 14-4 lead with 3:55 remaining in the first quarter after Briana Bell and Meghan McQuade nailed back-to-back three-point baskets. Georgia College battled back to get within three points (24-21) at halftime.

The Bobcats scored 11 of the first 12 points in the third quarter as they took 34-25 lead after McGriff converted a layup with 4:42 to go, but the Mountain Lions fought back as outscored Georgia College 10-2 to the end the quarter, Meredith Tarver scored six of her points during the rally, including a three-pointer in the final seconds of the quarter to pull within a point at 36-35.

Georgia College put together a 16-7 run at the start of the fourth quarter to open up a 52-42 advantage with 4:55 remaining on a layup by LaRice Walker. Again the Mountain Lions battled back.to within two points (54-52) with 33 seconds left on a Tarver layup as they used a 10-2 run over the next four minutes.

The Bobcats were able to thwart the YHC rally as they made five of six free throws in the final 27 seconds.

"Meredith Tarver, Jenny Vernet, and Jada Williams were tremendous tonight," said YHC head coach Matt Stearsman "They had great energy and played extremely hard. Meghan, Briana and Sara couldn't get any shots to fall and that's the way it goes. We had too many turnovers in the second half. It came down to a possession here or there and they came up with some key turnovers and loose balls. Georgia College played very well."

McGriff, who was the only Bobcat to finish in double figures, led Georgia College with nine rebounds. 

Tarver led the Mountain Lions with 26 points and eight rebounds while Jenny Vernet had a double double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Jada Williams added six points, while Bell tossed in five more and dished out six assists.