MORROW, Ga. | Jimecheia Banks' layup with 36 seconds remaining gave Clayton State University the lead for good as the Lakers held off Young Harris College's upset attempt 50-46 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Wednesday (Feb. 15) evening.
The Lakers improved to 21-5 overall and to 13-4 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 8-15 and 4-12. Young Harris wraps up the regular season with three home games at the YHC Basketball Arena, starting Saturday (Feb. 18) when they host Georgia Southwestern State University in a 1:30 p.m. matinee. The Mountain Lions will recognize their seniors after the contest.
Young Harris started the second quarter by scoring the first nine points to open up a 23-17 lead with 5:19 to go on a
Jenny Vernet layup. Clayton State battled back to tie the score before Young Harris took a 27-25 halftime lead after
Meghan McQuade hit a layup with 10 seconds left.
Both teams struggled to score in the third quarter, but the Mountain Lions got back-to-back layups from
Meredith Tarver and Vernet to open up a 31-25 lead with 3:13 to go.
Young Harris took a five-point lead (36-31) into the final quarter, but Clayton State took its first lead since the first half when Dejoun Dennard hit a three-pointer to give the Lakers a 42-39 lead with 6:17 to play.
Sara Jorgensen responded with a three-pointer of her own to tie the game at 42 two minutes later. The teams traded baskets until Banks connected on a layup to give the Lakers a 46-44 lead with 36 seconds left.
The Mountain Lions had a chance to tie the game on their next possession, but came away empty and was forced to foul. The Lakers were able to hold off the Mountain Lions as they hit all four free throws in the final 16 seconds.
"We have played six straight really good quarters of basketball." said YHC basketball coach
Matt Stearsman. "We had the ball in our best player's hand at the end with a chance to tie. We executed the game plan very well and just came up a little short. If we have a couple shots fall, we win. It's that simple."
Vernet led the Mountain Lions with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Tarver recorded a double double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jorgensen added six points and five rebounds.
Dennard was the lone Laker to finish in double figures with 16 points.
