Mountain Lions clip No. 19 Nighthawks 65-61

Mackenzie Johnson's putback with 21.4 seconds secured Young Harris College's 65-61 upset over No. 19 University of North Georgia in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Wednesday (Jan. 25) evening at Lynn Cottrell Arena inside the UNG Convocation Center.

The Mountain Lions improved to 8-9 overall and to 4-5 in the Peach Belt after their win over their Blood Mountain rival, while the Nighthawks fell to 14-4 and 6-3. YHC will stay on the road to face another ranked team Saturday (Jan. 28) when they travel to Americus, Georgia, for a 5:30 p.m. PBC game against No. 12 Georgia Southwestern State University.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Young Harris jumped out to an early 12-4 lead after Johnson's layup with three minutes left in the first quarter, but North Georgia rallied to tie the game at 16 at the end of the first quarter.

• The Nighthawks scored the first eight points in the second period en route to opening up a 30-20 lead after Kaylee Sticker layup with 4:04 left before the half.

• YHC, which trailed 35-38 at the half, cut the deficit to a point (37-36) after an old-fashioned three-point play from Johnson with 5:11 left in the third quarter.

• UNG built back its 10-point lead (48-38) on two free throws by Caroline Martin four minutes later.

• The Mountain Lions fought back and took their first lead since the first quarter when Johnson's layup put YHC up 60-59 with 3:21 to go.

• Kalen Surles' layup on the next YHC possession put the Mountain Lions up 62-59.

• A Niyah Lutz layup with 1:14 to go cut the UNG deficit to 62-61.

• Surles had her layup roll off the rim before Johnson stuck it back in with 21.4 seconds and gave YHC a 64-61 lead.

• North Georgia turned the ball over on its next possession and Dustie Obah was able to seal the win as she hit a free throw with 3.2 seconds to give the Mountain Lions a 65-61 lead.

• Johnson led the Mountain Lions with 21 points - 17 in the second half - and grabbed seven rebounds.

• Surles and Trinity Edwards each added 12 points. Surles grabbed seven rebounds.

• JaMari Frederick also finished in double figures with 11 points and dished out five assists.

• YHC outrebounded UNG 29-23 and only limited the Nighthawks to three offensive rebounds.

• The Mountain Lions outscored the Nighthawks 44-28 in the paint.

• It was the first win in the Battle of Blood Mountain series for the Mountain Lions since Young Harris swept the season series from the Nighthawks in 2014 - a stretch of 17 games.