YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.  |  Julie McKie nailed the go-ahead basket with 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter as the University of North Georgia edged Young Harris College 71-69 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Wednesday (Feb. 7) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena. 

The Nighthawks improved to 19-3 overall and 14-2 in the PBC while the Mountain Lions fell to 8-15 and 5-11. Young Harris returns to action Saturday (Feb. 10) as they travel to Pembroke, North Carolina, to take on the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in a 1:30 p.m. PBC contest.

This year's Battle of Blood Mountain game was a part of the NCAA Division II Basketball Showcase that was streamed nationally on ESPN3. 

North Georgia jumped to an early 6-0 lead at the 7:37 mark after a jumper by MacKenzie Darrah. Ge'Naisha Robinson gave the Mountain Lions their first lead of the night (12-11) after a layup with 3:04 left in the first quarter. Robinson extended the Young Harris lead to six (19-13) after a layup with 48 seconds to play in the quarter. The Mountain Lions held a nine-point lead (27-18) with 6:50 to play in the second quarter after a layup by Sarah Reid. The Nighthawks went on a 9-0 run over the next 2:03 in even the score at 27 with just under five minutes left until halftime. Robinson scored a layup with 18 seconds to go in the second quarter to give Young Harris a four-point halftime lead (38-34).

Both teams fought neck and neck in the third quarter as the scored was tied three times and there were two lead changes. Julianne Sutton cut the Mountain Lion lead down to three (50-47) to send the game into the fourth quarter. Young Harris controlled the first 7:23 of the fourth quarter as they held a five-point lead (69-64) with 2:37 left to play. North Georgia went on to score the final seven points of the game with McKie hitting the go-ahead layup with 21 seconds left to give the Nighthawks a 70-69 lead.. 

"Another outstanding game," said YHC head coach Matt Stearsman. "We just couldn't make the plays we needed to at the end of the game. Give North Georgia credit, that's twice they've done that. They got the stops they needed to and we didn't. Ge'Naisha was outstanding for us as was Sarah Garner. I thought Ashlyn was great. We just couldn't close the door on them

Dararh finished with 20 points and six rebounds for the Nighthawks. Amber Skidgel tallied 17 points and seven rebounds, while Deana Blankinship scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Robinson scored 20 points for the Mountain Lions while Ashlyn Ellison finished with 13 points. Sarah Garner grabbed 14 rebounds.