From STAFF REPORTS

AMERICUS –  The Georgia Southwestern women’s basketball team won their first Peach Belt Conference (PBC) game against Young Harris College (YHC) in the Storm Dome on Jan. 9.
With the victory, the Lady ‘Canes increased their record to 7-6 overall and 1-5 in the PBC while YHC fell to 7-6 overall and 2-4 in the PBC.
Yvonna Dunkley opened up the action early with a three-pointer, followed by Va’Queshia Hall and Aleah Holden, who both added lay-ups to pull ahead 7-0 three minutes into the first quarter. Soon after, Young Harris put in a lay-up and a three-pointer to only fall behind by two and continued to claw their way back into contention.
With 18 seconds left, Young Harris was leading by one. At this point, Kenyona Armstrong drained a free throw to tie the score 12-12 after the first quarter.
The second quarter went scoreless until the 6:21 mark when Jasmin McSwain tossed in a three-pointer to take the lead for GSW.
YHC immediately put up a basket to close the gap by one, but the Lady ‘Canes took control and put in three lay-ups by Emili Russ and Whitney Young. McSwain followed this streak with another three-pointer to lead by 10 with 1:51 left in the second period.
Young Harris made one more basket in the second to give GSW a 24-16 lead heading into half-time.
The Mountain Lions came into the second half more prepared, and put up 18 points in the third quarter, compared to their four points in the second quarter. GSW had 19 points and led 43-34 going into the final stanza.
The Mountain Lions kept up their momentum and started the fourth period with a three-pointer and a lay-up. GSW countered with a lay-up from Sesler and another trey from McSwain.
After YHC put in two more baskets to fall behind by five, McSwain added a free throw to expand the Lady ‘Canes’ advantage to six points. With 1:14 remaining the Mountain Lions sank a three-pointer and Whitton followed with a lay-up for GSW.
The teams traded a pair of free throws over the next 30 seconds.
YHC fouled two more times in the last 19 seconds, giving Dunkley and Sesler the opportunity to cinch the win with a pair of foul shots. YHC made a jump shot in the final seconds to hold GSW to a 59-53 win.
McSwain led the Lady ‘Canes with 15 points. Holden led GSW in rebounds with 11.
Sesler had 12 points, six rebounds and six assists while Dunkley scored 10 points and brought down eight rebounds.
GSW out-rebounded YHC 49-32 and had more bench points, 29-11.
The Lady ‘Canes hit the road on Jan. 12 to battle Flagler College. The results of this contest were not available at press time.
The Lady ‘Canes return to action on Jan. 16, hosting USC Aiken in another PBC match-up.