FLORENCE, S.C. | Kiana Adderton led Francis Marion University with 26 points as the Patriots held off Young Harris College 82-73 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Saturday (Dec. 21) afternoon at the Smith University Center.

The Patriots improved to 5-3 overall and to 1-1 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 5-4 and 0-2. Young Harris steps out of conference play for the final time this season when they host Truett McConnell University in a 1 p.m. game at the YHC Basketball Arena Dec. 31.

Young Harris jumped out to a 20-13 lead after the first quarter as Niaya White led the Mountain Lions with eight points, Young Harris took their largest lead of the game - 11 points (25-14) - after Sarah Woghiren connected on a three-pointer with 7:45 to go before halftime. Francis Marion battled back to a 37-35 lead at the half. 

Young Harris tied the game at 47 on a Woghiren layup with 5:25 left in the third quarter. However, the Patriots scored the next six points to take a 53-47 lead on two Tatyana McClaney free throws with 1:49 left in the quarter. Francis Marion hit 28-of-34 free throws in the game, while the Mountain Lions only went to the charity stripe 12 times, making 10. 

The closest the Mountain Lions would get would be three points (70-67) on a steal and layup by Woghiren with 3:45 remaining in the game.

Zaria Woods added 15 points for FMU, while Camryan Johnson (13) and Khalmele Manning (12) also finished in double figures,

White led the Mountain Lions with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor, while Woghiren followed closely behind with 17 points. Carly Winters (11) and Jada Griffin (10) also  finished in double figures. Griffin led the Mountain Lions with seven rebounds, while Woghiren pulled down six.