DAHLONEGA - Emily Trushel knocked down a buzzer-beating shot as time expired to lead the University of North Georgia women's basketball team past Georgia College & State University 71-69 in Peach Belt Conference action at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center on Wednesday.
 
The Nighthawks (10-3, 3-0 Peach Belt) had four players score in double figures, led by Kaylee Sticker, who came off the bench to score a team-best 15 points. Trushel tacked on 14 points and Ansley Hall chipped in as well with 12 points, seven assists and three steals.
 
GCSU fell to 7-6 on the year and 1-2 in Peach Belt Conference play. Myra Strickland led the way for the Bobcats with a team-best 18 points.
 
North Georgia did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 21 assists while turning the ball over seven times. Hall's seven assists paced the Nighthawks.
 
After falling behind 11-10, North Georgia went on a 5-0 run with 1:15 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Kendall Emener, to take a 15-11 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period.
 
North Georgia kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 5:21 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Trushel, to increase its lead to 30-20. The Nighthawks kept that lead for the remainder of the period and enjoyed a 36-26 advantage heading into halftime.
 
UNG continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a three from Lexi Pierce, to expand its lead further to 50-34 with 2:40 to go in the third.
 
The Bobcats outscored the Nighthawks 26-19 to overcome a nine-point deficit entering the quarter. A pair of GC free throws tied the game at 69 a piece with under six second left to play. UNG called a timeout to move the inbound to their half of the court and were able to draw up the play for Trushel's heroics.

North Georgia travels to Columbus on Saturday, Jan. 13 for a 1:30 p.m. start against Columbus State.