DAHLONEGA – Caroline Martin scored a game-high 28 points to lead the University of North Georgia women's basketball team to a 70-65 non-conference win over Tusculum in Lynn Cottrell Arena in the UNG Convocation Center in the team's home-opener.
Martin played all 40 minutes for North Georgia, finishing second in assists (3), second in rebounds (7), and first in blocks (3) for the Nighthawks.
Josie Earnhardt was the second of two Nighthawks to play the entire game as she scored 16 points for UNG, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the three-point line.
Kayla Massop finished with a team-high in rebounds, grabbing eight rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. She scored key baskets down the stretch to help the Nighthawks in the second half, finishing with seven points.
Kaylee Sticker rounded out the top-three scorers for North Georgia with 11 points.
Key Moments
- Tusculum shot out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, stretching out the run to open up the game with a 16-4 advantage. UNG kept the deficit to nine points at the end of the first quarter.
- The Nighthawks answered Tusculum's first quarter with a run of their own, tying the game at the 6:48 mark with a jumper from Sticker.
- A scoreless three minutes for both sides ended when Earnhardt hit back-to-back threes to take the lead with three minutes left before halftime.
- Martin scored the final five points for North Georgia before the half, giving the Nighthawks a four-point lead. North Georgia outscored Tusculum 24-11 in the second quarter.
- Tusculum's Deidre Cheremond ended the third quarter with a three-point play to tie the game at 53.
- Martin led the Nighthawks on a run to end the game by scoring seven points in the final three minutes to close out the 70-65 victory.
Next Up
The Nighthawks will stay in Dahlonega, hosting Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman on Friday (Nov. 18) and Saturday (Nov. 19) in the UNG Nighthawk Classic. Friday's game will be at 6 pm, and Saturday's will tip off at 4 pm.
North Georgia last played Lincoln Memorial in 2008, falling in that contest 76-64. Carson-Newman and UNG met last season in the NCAA Tournament. The Nighthawks defeated C-N 78-64 to move onto the Sweet 16.
