The Young Harris College women’s basketball team jumped out to an eight-point lead in the first half, and nearly rallied from as many as 15-points down in the second half as the Mountain Lions dropped a 71-66 decision to North Greenville on Saturday at Hayes Gymnasium in Tigerville, S.C.

Lauren Smith led Young Harris with 14 points, while Nikki Winn and LaDondra Johnson each had 13. Breanna Gleeson finished with 11 points as the Mountain Lions were 25-for-58 shooting for 43 percent.

The Mountain Lions, who trailed just once in the first half, raced out to a 22-14 lead after a Missy Conrad jumper with 6:20 remaining. But the Lady Crusaders battled back and out-scored Young Harris, 18-10, during the final six minutes to tie the game at 32 as the two teams headed into the half.

North Greenville (9-11) began the second half on a 24-11 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Brooks Walz to give the Lady Crusaders a 56-43 lead with 9:50 remaining. Young Harris (7-12) trimmed the deficit to 67-62 with 1:03 left by using a 19-9 run, and after a turnover, Breanna Gleeson drained a trey with 31 seconds remaining.

NORTH GREENVILLE COLLEGE 82, YOUNG HARRIS 69: Frank Adams and Matt Preston combined for 45 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Young Harris College men’s basketball team fell to North Greenville, 82-69, on Saturday at Hayes Gymnasium in Tigerville, S.C.

Adams was 9-for-15 shooting for a game-high 23 points, while Preston didn’t misfire too much, going 8-of-11 from the floor, including draining four 3-pointers for a career-high 22 points. Steve Viterbo finished with eight points as Young Harris shot 54 percent (26-for-48) from the field.

NORTH GEORGIA MEN 65, COLUMBUS STATE 60: Carl Taylor who registered a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds led North Georgia College & State University on Saturday in Columbus. Taylor chipped in 13 points in 35 minutes of action. Robby Goldsmith and Chaun Tinney added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

NGCSU visits Francis Marion at 7:30 on Wednesday in Florence, S.C.

COLUMBUS STATE WOMEN 72, NORTH GEORGIA 55: Lindsey Moss was the lone offensive threat for North Georgia in the first half as the junior forward scored 16 of the team’s 21 points to lead all scorers in the first half. Moss was 6-of-8 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from three-point range.