AMERICUS, Ga. – The University of North Georgia women's basketball team lost its Peach Belt Conference Quarterfinal matchup 64-51 against 4-seed Lander Thursday night.

PBC Player of the Year WyKira Johnson-Kelly led her team with 17 points on the night. The Lander graduate guard went 5-for-13 from the floor and added five rebounds and five steals on defense. 

PBC All-Conference First Team selection Emily Trushel recorded a game-high 19 points while adding eight rebounds. The Nighthawk junior forward ends the season leading her team in scoring, rebounding, steals, field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage.

The Nighthawks led in the game after the opening quarter, 15-14 before getting outscored 15-9 in the second to trail by five points at the halftime break.

The third quarter was very close until Lander pulled away as the end neared. A layup from freshman forward Ava McGlockton  pulled UNG within a point at 37-36 with 3:38 to go in the quarter. 

From that point on, the Bearcats ended the quarter on a 10-0 run to lead 47-36 going into the final quarter. 

Lander held its double digit lead for most of the fourth quarter until the Nighthawks cut it to an eight-point game after a three from Trushel. 

Still, UNG was unable to muster a comeback as the Bearcats pulled away in the end. 

For the first time since 2016, the Nighthawks will not play in the PBC Tournament Semifinals. 

UNG ends the season with a 17-12 overall record and a 10-9 mark in conference play.