YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern women's basketball team opened up the fourth quarter with a five-point lead but Young Harris quickly retook the lead and dominated the whole fourth quarter as GSW fell 60-50 in a Wednesday Peach Belt Conference game inside YHC Basketball Arena.
The game had seven total lead changes and five ties as GSW was inching to get back into the winner column. Both teams amounted to 13 second quarter points but GSW was on the ladder end as they missed nine free throws tonight.
How It Happened: In a back and forth opening quarter, Dominique Jeffery opened up the game with a deep three but YHC took the lead with back-to-back layups as they expanded the lead with a deep three of thier own. With 4:00 left in the first, Jeffery made back-to-back layups while completing the three-point play to push GSW up, 13-12. GSW then went up by four but YHC responded with a three and they took the lead on the following possession as the Mountain Lions went into the second quarter up 20-18.
The second quarter was slow for both teams as they couldn't get anything rolling. After two minutes of missed shots, YHC was able to land one in the rim but Lex Chatman responded with a three to cut the score to 22-21. Within the final four minutes of the half, both teams scored twice but YHC still led, 26-25.
The Mountain Lions opened the third with a deep three as they quickly went on a 7-2 lead, going up six points with 7:26 remaining in the third. After a deep three by Kya Cochran, Madison Johnson scored six striaght points to put the Lady Hurricanes up, 36-35 as GSW was on an 11-0 run before YHC was able to get on the board with a pair of free throws. Layups by Cochran and Jeffery closed the third as GSW took the lead going into the fourth, 42-37.
The fourth quarter was completely different for GSW (5-10, 1-8 PBC) as YHC defense only held them to eight points for the entire fourth quarter, outscoring them 23-8. YHC (11-6, 5-4 PBC) opened up with back-to-back three's that led to a 17-1 run as they took an 11-point lead midway through the fourth. The Mountain Lions took a 16-point lead but GSW was able to cut the score down as they fell on the road.
GSW was outshot from the field, 36.7 - 33.9 percent, as YHC also drained more free throws than GSW as they was 78.6 percent from the line compared to GSW's 43.8 percent. Although the Lady Hurricanes forced 20 turnovers, the Mountain Lions finished the game with a 47-37 rebound advantage.
Who Stood Out: Jeffery led with 14 points followed by Johnson, who finished with eight points and one steal. Kayla Smith led the team with eight rebounds.
YHC was led by Bria Clemmons, who drained two from deep for 17 points. Niaya White ended with a double-double, getting 11 points while grabbing 10 boards for the Mountain Lions.
Up Next: The Lady Hurricanes invites UNC Pembroke to town for a Saturday game on Jan. 25 at 1:30 p.m.