DAHLONEGA | After trailing by six at the half, the University of North Georgia women's basketball team used a early fourth quarter surge sparked by junior Jordan Livesay to take down North Greenville, 68-59, Friday evening in their season opener at Memorial Hall. The game was the second of four contests as part of the Peach Belt / Conference Carolinas Conference Challenge presented by Steak-n-Shake.
 
The Crusaders and Nighthawks went back and forth for the majority of the game with NGU having an 8-7 advantage in scoring in the second quarter and UNG holding the slim advantage 24-23 in the third quarter of play. The Nighthawks found a buzzer beater from Livesay at the end of the third quarter that pulled North Georgia within five, 46-41.
 
Livesay made it a two-point game just five seconds into the fourth quarter knocking down a big three-pointer that swung momentum in UNG's favor and led the Nighthawks to a 14-point advantage in the final period of regulation.
 
NOTES
- Friday the 13th was kind to Cierra Jackson. The senior got her season off to a great start with her first double-double of the year. Jackson led the team in scoring with 13 points on the night and also collected a team high 13 rebounds.
 
- The Nighthawks have won nine straight season openers. The last North Georgia loss on opening day came in 2006 when UNG dropped a 77-68 game to North Dakota.
 
- UNG now holds a 3-0 all-time advantage over North Greenville.

- In the earlier game, Francis Marion downed Erskine, 73-65.
 
STAT OF THE NIGHT
27-13 – The fourth quarter defined the game and luckily for the Nighthawks, it went in their favor with a 27-13 advantage in the final quarter of play.
 
NEXT UP
North Georgia will wrap up the 2015 Peach Belt / Conference Carolinas Challenge presented by Steak-n-Shake tomorrow afternoon with a 4 p.m. contest against Erskine.