YOUNG HARRIS — The University of North Georgia women's basketball team pulled out a tough rivalry road win Wednesday evening, holding off a late Young Harris comeback effort to win, 80-75. The Nighthawks finish the regular season at 20-8 with a 12-7 record in Peach Belt Conference play. UNG earns the No. 3-seed from the Western Division in the PBC Tournament, which will start with a quarterfinal matchup at Francis Marion on Saturday.
North Georgia took a three-point lead into the half but the Mountain Lions showed their fight in their final game of the season, coming out of the locker room on a 5-0 run to take the lead for the first time in the game. YHC led for less than two minutes though as the Nighthawks 15-5 run over the next six minutes to take control of the game.
UNG took its largest lead of the day in the closing minutes of the third period, extending their advantage to 10. Young Harris would not go quietly into the mountain night though, fighting back to within just one point at the 2:47 mark in the fourth quarter. The Nighthawks went on a quick 7-0 run though to provide some much need breathing room and finish out the game with a two-possession victory.
Kelsey Hutchins was the game's leading scorer and rebounder posting another double-double with 25 points and 10 boards.
UNG improves to 10-4 all-time against Young Harris and have won six in a row now in the series.
The Nighthawks will travel to Florence, South Carolina on Saturday to take on Francis Marion, the No. 2-seed from the Eastern Division, in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
