DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The No. 20 University of North Georgia women's basketball team came up on the wrong end of a dramatic last second finish in Wednesday night's marquee Peach Belt Conference match up against Clayton State, falling to the Lakers, 63-62. The Nighthawks slip to 13-4 on the year with a 5-3 mark in league play.
 
UNG held a 60-57 lead with two minutes to play, but Clayton State's Jimecheia Banks would hit a jumper to cut it the lead to one and set the stage for a wild finish. CSU's Tierra Johnson forced a turnover coming out of a timeout, taking it the other way for the easy go-ahead layup with 29 ticks remaining.
 
Deana Blankinship answered with a layup at the other end to reclaim the lead, 62-61, with 17 seconds on the clock but the Lakers would not go down so easily. Banks drove the ball just to the right of the lane and pulled up to knock down a 12-footer for a 63-62 lead with 14 seconds left.
 
North Georgia put up a quick three on the other end and got the offensive rebound off the missed shot and put up a shot on a tough look just before the buzzer that rattled off the rim to give Clayton State the upset win.
 
NOTES
- Turnovers once again plagued the Nighthawks as the 20 giveaways led to 23 points for Clayton State, compared to just 11 points scored off turnovers by North Georgia.
 
- Julie McKie led the Nighthawks in scoring with 13 points on the night. Jordan Livesay was the leading rebounder with nine boards.
 
- Kelsey Hutchins added 12 points for her 43rd consecutive game scoring in double figures.
 
- Today's loss is the third consecutive in the all-time series against Clayton State. The last time the Nighthawks downed the Lakers was Jan. 24, 2015 in Morrow. The two teams will square off again in Southlake on Monday, Feb. 5.
 
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks return to the road this weekend traveling to Americus to take on Georgia Southwestern. Tipoff at the Storm Dome is set for 1:30 p.m.