YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.  |  Jessica Harris scored a game-high 26 points for Lander University as they defeated Young Harris College 85-66 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Thursday (Dec. 12) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena. 

The Bearcats improved to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the PBC, while the Mountain Lions fell to 2-6 and 0-2. Young Harris returns to action Monday (Dec. 17) as they host Augusta University in a 1 p.m. PBC contest. The Mountain Lions will host 560 area middle school students as part of the annual Education Day game.

The Mountain Lions brought the score within five (15-10) at the 1:34 mark in the first quarter after a three-pointer by Avery Jordan. Elle Hutchinson tied the game at 29 with a three-pointer with 2:23 left the play before halftime.  Jordan gave Young Harris a 31-30 lead with eight seconds left in the second quarter after a pair of free throws, but Amiaya Melvins gave Lander the lead going into halftime (32-31) with two free throws one second left. 

The Bearcats used a strong second half to break open the game, outscoring Young Harris 53-35. Landerr started the second half on a 23-10 run that saw the Bearcats open a 54-40 lead on a Mylea McKenith layup with 2:27 left in the third quarter. YHC would get as close as 10 points the rest of the way.

Pamela Diokpara led the way for the Mountain Lions with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sarah Woghiren added 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while Hutchinson tallied 11 points and four rebounds. 

Harris scored 26 points for Lander with eight rebounds. McKenith tallied 16 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Sarah Crews totaled 11 points and five rebounds. Tabitha Dailey added 10 points and four rebounds.