Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan was unable to hold onto a strong first half lead to the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Wednesday evening as they fell in a 90-57 final score.
The Warriors were 40% from the field and show 52.2% from beyond the arc against the Mountain Lions. Freshman Savanna Nicholson led the team as she totaled 23 points including going 7-10 from beyond the arc, tying the school record for threes made in a game in the process. Lexie Ransom shot 4-5 from beyond the arc and collected 15 points in the game. Of the 13 assists Southern Wesleyan accumulated, Princess McCauley had four and Kyra Price had three.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 20 rebounds in the game with Princess McCauley picking up seven. The lone block of the game for the Warriors came off the hands of Kyra Price. The Warriors stole the ball away from the Mountain Lions seven times with Peyton Looky picking up two steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Young Harris 90, Southern Wesleyan 57
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-6 / CC 0-2) Young Harris (5-2 / CC 2-1)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan won the opening tip and Kyra Price quickly got the ball down the court to Princess McCauley. McCauley drove to the basket and laid the ball up to give the Warriors the early advantage. However, the Mountain Lions took the lead as Annalise Malone sunk a three pointer. Malone struck again as she laid the ball up to extend Young Harris' lead to 7-2. The Warriors pressed right back as Price passed the ball out beyond the arc to Savanna Nicholson who knocked down her first three pointer of the game. Peyton Looky hit a mid-range jump shot to tie the game up. Young Harris regained the lead, but Southern Wesleyan continued to press as Lexie Ransom hit back-to-back three pointers to put the Warriors back within one. Makayla Raines collected a pass from McCauley and put up a three of her own to give the Warriors the lead with just over two minutes left in the quarter. However, Kamryn Bates stole the ball away form the Warriors and went on a fast break down the court to lay the ball up to tie the game back up.
Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Lexie Ransom got the ball out to Savanna Nicholson. Nicholson stepped out deep beyond the arc and sunk another three pointer to extend the Warriors lead to 20-16. Ransom and Nicholson hit back to back three pointers to maintain the Warriors seven point lead. Peyton Looky wove past the Mountain Lions and laid the ball up into the basket to capitalize on a defensive breakdown by Young Harris. Kamryn Bates pulled down a defensive rebound and then took the ball all the way to the basket to cut Southern Wesleyan's lead back down to seven. However, Looky pulled down an offensive rebound and sent it right out to Nicholson who knocked down her fourth three pointer of the game. The Mountain Lions continued to challenge as Chassidy Fedd laid the ball up to put Young Harris behind Southern Wesleyan 31-27. Nicholson went up and put up the ball for another three pointer that rattled around the rim before falling into the basket. Lilly Griffith and Natalie Jojola hit back-to-back three pointers to put Young Harris back within one. Young Harris pressed on as Kamryn Bates and Annalise Malone hit several baskets to allow the Mountain Lions to take a seven point lead. The Mountain Lions led 45-36 going into the locker room.
Young Harris came out of the half and Chassidy Fedd quickly laid the ball up into the basket. The Mountain Lions continued their offensive pressure as Kamryn Bates and Lilly Griffith each got the ball into the basket. Peyton Looky laid the ball up to cut into the Mountain Lions offensive spurt. Kyra Price got the ball over to Lexie Ransom who side stepped the Mountain Lions defense to knock down yet another three pointer. Faith Yelton got the ball down the field to Savanna Nicholson. Nicholson quickly went up and got the ball into the basket from deep beyond the arc. The Warriors continued to challenge as with under a minute on the clock, DeYana Hayes got past the defense and laid the ball up into the basket. Emily Gamon stole the ball away from Telma Balague and took it quickly down the court. Gamon passed the ball out behind the arc to Savanna Nicholson who got in another three pointer to put the Warriors down 72-51 at the end of the third quarter.
Young Harris pushed ahead as Annalise Malone and Lilly Griffith each laid the ball up into the basket. The Mountain Lions continued to get past the Warriors defense as Telma Balague got up a couple more layups. Princess McCauley was able to get under the basket to lay the ball up. Southern Wesleyan put up a fight as Lexie Ransom stole the ball away from the Mountain Lions. A foul by the Mountain Lions sent McCauley to the charity stripe. McCauley knocked down one of her shots. However, Young Harris continued to attack as Katia Nekic got up a three pointer. With under a minute on the clock, Ransom put up a mid-range jump shot. Young Harris went on to win the game in a 90-57 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on December 6 as they travel down to Spartanburg, SC to take on the Converse Valkyries. They will then travel to Banner Elk, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats on December 13 at 2pm. The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on December 16 as they host the North Greenville Trailblazers.
