DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The University of North Georgia women's basketball team flexed their muscle in Monday night's 79-48 thrashing of rival-Young Harris. The Nighthawks improve to 16-4 on the season with the victory and are now 8-3 in Peach Belt Conference play.
 
The Mountain Lions used two three-point baskets to take an early lead out of the gates but UNG would take the lead at the 5:38 mark of the first quarter with a jumper by Kelsey Hutchins and the Nighthawks never looked back.

The Nighthawks took control of the game early in the second quarter as Deana Blakinship got a putback to start a 16-0 run.

North Georgia doubled up YHC in both the second and third quarters, carrying a 65-33 lead into the final period of play. The Nighthawks led by as many as 37 in the fourth quarter.
 
NOTES
- Kelsey Hutchins led the North Georgia effort both in scoring and off the glass with 16 points and eight rebounds. It is Hutchins' 46th consecutive game scoring in double figures.
 
- Mackenzie Darrah and Amber Skidgel each reached double figure scoring as well with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

- Meredith Tarver was the lone Mountain Lion to reach double figures in scoring with a team-best 22 points on 9-of-26 shooting from the floor.  She scored 16 of her 22 points in the first half.

- UNG held a 37-29  advantage on the glass over the Mountain Lions, including a 17-5 margin on the offensive boards. The Nighthawks did not allow an YHC offensive rebound until the fourth quarter.
 
- The Nighthawks are now 9-4 all-time against Young Harris and have won the last five consecutive games in the series.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
34-6 – North Georgia outscored Young Harris by a margin of 34-6 in the paint in the contest.
 
NEXT UP
UNG will hit the road on Wednesday, traveling to Columbus State for a matchup with the division-leading Cougars. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.