YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.  |  The Young Harris College women's basketball team fell to Lees-McRae 59-54 in the Peach Belt-Conference Carolinas Challenge Friday (Nov. 9) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena. 

The Bobcats improved to 1-0 on the season, while the Mountain Lions fell to 0-1. Young Harris returns to action Saturday (Nov. 10) as they host Emmanuel College in a 3:30 p.m. matchup at the YHC Basketball Arena. 

Lees-McRae jumped to an 11-0 start through the first 3:39 of the first quarter, before ending with an 18-12 edge over Young Harris. 

The Mountain Lions brought the score within four (23-19) after a three-pointer by Lindsey Caudell at the 4:37 mark in the second quarter. Dee Dee McLane cut the lead to just three points (27-24) with a three-pointer with 2:08 to go before halftime. Pamela Diokpara made a layup with eight seconds left in the quarter to cut the lead down to six (32-26).

The Bobcats opened up the third quarter with a 15-2 run over 5:56 to make it a 47-30 lead. 

The Mountain Lions outscored Lees-McRae in the fourth quarter 16-9, but came just short in the 59-54 loss. 

Meg Crawford led the way for Lees-McRae with 14 points, eight blocks, and seven rebounds. Markia Stacey picked up seven points, four assists, three steals, and three rebounds, while Mackenzie Blankenship and Taylor Fluette tallied eight points apiece.

Diokpara picked up a double-double for the Mountain Lions with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while going 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Haylie Shope totaled eight points and four rebounds with one steal, while McLane tallied seven points apiece.