MORROW, Ga. | Clayton State University built up a 10-point lead in the first quarter then had to hold off Young Harris College for a 62-56 Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Wednesday (Jan. 3) evening at the Clayton State Athletics & Fitness Center.

The Lakers improved to 6-5 overall and to 3-2 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 4-9 and 1-5. Young Harris returns to the YHC Basketball Arena for the first time in 2018 Saturday (Jan. 6) when they host Georgia Southwestern State University in a 1:30 p.m. PBC contest.

Clayton State jumped out to a 23-13 lead at the end of the first quarter as the Lakers converted 12 Young Harris turnovers into 11 points. Clayton State scored 23 points in the game off the 28 turnovers committed by the Mountain Lions.

"it was a great effort on the road tonight," said YHC head coach Matt Stearsman. "The first quarter put us in a bind. The rest of the game we outscored them. We just dug a hole we couldn't get out of. You can't turn it over 28 times and beat many people."

Young Harris started its comeback in the final four minutes of the second quarter. Clayton State had taken a 30-21 lead on a Abrelyn Rackley jumper with 3:49 left before halftime. The Mountain Lions used 10 unanswered points to take a 31-30 lead on two Sarah Reid free throws with 64 seconds left. Briana Bell scored five of her 14 first half points during the run. The Lakers took a 34-31 lead into intermission on a free throw by Shaquoria MIles and a three-pointer by Dalania Clardy.

Clayton State pushed its lead out to eight points (47-39) on a Brittany Hardeman layup with 2:59 left in the third quarter. The Mountain Lions sank six consecutive free throws - two by Eryn Cochran and four by Ashlyn Ellison to end the period, trailing 47-45.

The Mountain Lions tied the game at 47 on a Ge'Naisha Robinson layup with 8:51 left in the game, but the Lakers got back-to-back layups from Kietta Saunders and Aleisha Merriweather to take a 51-47 lead two minutes later. The Mountain Lions got within two points (56-54) when Bell sank her fifth three-pointer of the game with 1:57 to play, but that would be as close as they would get as the Lakers converted all four free throws in the final 21 seconds to seal the win.

Rackley led Clayton State with 15 points and six rebounds, while Aysia Grimsley had 12 points.

Bell finished with 18 points for the Mountain Lions while Ellison tossed in 11. Sarah Garner had a game-high 10 rebounds before fouling out. Robinson added nine points, while Sara Jorgensen contributed six points and six assists.