DAHLONEGA -- Emily Trushel collected a team-best 20 points to help lead the University of North Georgia women's basketball team to a Peach Belt Conference home win over Clayton State, 73-55, on Wednesday in Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center.
 
The Nighthawks (8-3, 1-0 PBC) had four players score in double figures, led by Trushel, who had 20 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals. Kendall Emener added 16 points and seven rebounds off of the bench and Dasha Cannon helped out with 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
North Georgia collected 41 rebounds in Wednesday's game compared to Clayton State's 31, led by Cannon's nine boards.

Clayton State falls to 2-8 overall and 0-1 in league play.
 
The UNG defense held Clayton State shooters to only 36.2 percent from the field, including 25 percent from three-point range. The Nighthawks also kept Jadah Waite to 4-of-14 shooting in the game. The Lakers did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only nine offensive rebounds and scored six second chance points while North Georgia pulled down 32 defensive rebounds.
 
After jumping out to a 10-6 advantage, North Georgia went on an 11-0 run with 3:30 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Emener, to increase its lead to 21-6, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. North Georgia did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 14 of its 21 points close to the basket.
 
North Georgia kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 8:14 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Cannon, to increase its lead to 28-10. The Lakers cut into that lead, but the Nighthawks still enjoyed a 35-24 advantage heading into halftime.
 
North Georgia wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Trushel, to expand its lead further to 40-24 with 7:15 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lakers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Nighthawks still entered the fourth quarter with a 52-40 edge. North Georgia took advantage of eight Clayton State turnovers in the quarter, scoring eight points off of takeaways.
 
North Georgia kept its lead intact before going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Ansley Hall's jumper, to grow the lead to 65-44 with 4:15 to go in the contest. The Lakers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Nighthawks still cruised the rest of the way for the 73-55 win. North Georgia took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 12 of its 21 points in the paint.

UNG returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 6 with a road trip to St. Augustine, Fla. for a date with Flagler. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m.
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