GAINESVILLE, Ga. – LaDondra Johnson scored a career-high 27 points as the Young Harris College women’s basketball team won another close game on Monday night as the Mountain Lions rallied to defeat Brenau, 55-51.

Johnson finished with a double-double, also pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds. Lauren Smith, who went 9-of-16 from the free-throw line, also recorded a double-double, with 13 points and 10 boards as the Mountain Lions shot 48 percent (19-of-40).

Young Harris led, 21-12, after a Johnson jumper with 7:05 remaining in the opening half. However, Brenau rallied and used a 14-4 run to grab a 26-25 advantage with 1:33 left. But a Johnson bucket gave the Mountain Lions a 27-26 halftime lead.

The lead never grew larger than five points in the second half and Brenau took a 49-48 lead on a free throw by Raveen Crawford with 1:42 remaining.

Nikki Winn, who missed the YHC victory on Thursday at Tennessee Temple because of an illness, picked a perfect time to drain the only Young Harris 3-pointer of the night off an assist by Breanna Gleeson to give the Mountain Lions the lead for good at 51-49 with 1:22 remaining.

Young Harris put the game away with free throws by Johnson and Smith.

Crawford paced the Golden Tigers (13-14) with 11 points as Brenau was 20-of-61 shooting for 33 percent.

Young Harris ends its first season of basketball under head coach Brenda Paul with an 11-13 record.

YHC Athletics