Huffman goes over 1,000 for her career, but North Ga. falls on road

SAVANNAH -- Senior guard Stephanie Huffman poured in a team-high 26 points, breaking the 1,000-point barrier for her career, but the University of North Georgia women's basketball team came up on the short end of an 85-77 Peach Belt Conference game at Armstrong State. The host Pirates scored 53 second half points to erase a four-point halftime deficit and end the Nighthawks' three-game winning streak.<br /> <br /> Huffman's jump shot at the 11:21 mark of the first half pushed her over the 1,000-point plateau for her four year career as she becomes the 11th player to reach the scoring milestone in the history of the UNG women's basketball program.<br /> <br /> Armstong State's Dee Howard scored 21 of her career-high 28 points in the second half to lead the Pirates.<br /> <br /> North Georgia jumped out to a five-point lead in the game's first five minutes and extended that lead to nine 26-17, with 8:34 left in the first half. The Nighthawks would carry a four-point lead into the break, taking a 36-32 advantage.<br /> <br /> The Pirates scored the first four points of the second half to tie the game at 36-all just a minute into the second half. The Nighthawks would reclaim the lead and hold it for most of the second half, leading by six points, 72-66, with five minutes left in the game.<br /> <br /> Armstrong used an 11-2 run from that point to take control of the game. The Pirates outscored the Nighthawks 15-4 over the games's final 3:51.<br /> Lauren Pounds notched 15 points and Kelsey Hutchins added 14 points as well for the Nighthawks.<br /> <br /> North Georgia falls to 9-2, 1-1 PBC while Armstrong State improves to 4-6, 2-1. The game was a rematch of the NCAA Southeast Region semifinal from a year ago in which the Pirates prevailed, 72-70.<br /> <br /> North Georgia returns to action in the New Year, hosting Georgia College on Jan. 3 in Memorial Hall.