DAHLONEGA, Ga. – MaKayla Smith and
Destiny Johnson both finished with a team-high 15 points and combined to grab 13 total rebounds, but it was not enough as Young Harris outscored the Bobcats 21-14 in the third quarter en route to clinching a 62-56 win in the non-conference contest this afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Young Harris – 62; Lees-McRae – 56
LOCATION: UNG Convocation Center, Dahlonega, Georgia
RECORDS: Young Harris (2-0), Lees-McRae (0-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Smith shot 2 of 3 from behind the three-point line to go along with grabbing eight rebounds, while Johnson added five rebounds and a block.
- Morgan Gray and Aurora Roberts chipped in eight and seven points respectively.
- Malikah Meyers finished with eight rebounds.
- Both teams matched each other point-for-point in the first quarter with a late 3-pointer giving the Mountain Lions a 12-10 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.
- Lees-McRae outscored Young Harris 17-12 in the second stanza and used a buzzer-beating three-point field goal by Smith to take a 27-24 halftime advantage.
- The Mountain Lions responded with a sizeable lead in the third quarter and held a 45-41 lead at the final intermission.
- The Bobcats used a 3-pointer by Johnson and a free throw by Smith to cut the lead back to 60-56 with 13 seconds remaining, but a final two free throws by Young Harris clinched the victory.
- Lees-McRae held a 17-8 advantage in points off of turnovers, while forcing 19 turnovers by the Mountain Lions, and a 10-6 edge in bench production.
FOR THE FOES:
- Mackenzie Johnson scored a game-high 16 points to go along with a game-high 24 rebounds to lead Young Harris.
- Kalen Surles and Niaya White both chipped in 13 points.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will return to the McNair & Debi Tornow Court for the first time in the 2021-22 season as they host Chowan in the Conference Carolinas season opener at 5 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
