>>>PURCHASE PHOTO PRINTS

By Sam Jones, Sports Information Student Assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Georgia College Women's Basketball team (15-5, 7-4 PBC) team clawed their way a third win in a row Wednesday night in the Centennial Center, running past Young Harris College (8-10, 3-8 PBC), 70-56.

The Bobcats and Mountain Lions were locked in a stalemate early. Young Harris ended the first quarter with a 14-12 lead but the Bobcats out-scored Young Harris 17-15 in the second quarter and went in to the locker room tied 29-29.

In the second half the Bobcat offense awoke from hibernation, opening the half with a 12-0 run. Young Harris, down 12, fought back and the Mountain Lions were able to bring the game within six before the third quarter buzzer sounded.

Once again though, the Bobcats opened the next quarter in a big way.

Veronica Ryan (Clearwater, Florida) lit up the scoreboard in the fourth, hitting three big shots from way behind the arc and adding a free-throw to end the quarter and the night with 10 points.

The Bobcats went on a 10-2 run to open the final quarter and Ryan's big fourth helped Georgia College put the final nail in the Mountain Lion coffin.

LaRice Walker (Franklin) and Kadesha Gibbs (Claremont, North Carolina) paced the Bobcats in the win. Walker ended the night with 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting and also dished out a game high five assists.

Gibbs picked up her seventh double-double of the season and her career. The reigning Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Player of the Week finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Gibbs wasted no time and achieved the double-double midway through the third quarter.

The win puts the Bobcats at 7-4 in league play, good for third in the PBC West. The top four teams advance to the PBC Tournament at the end of February.

The next game for the Bobcats is on the road as coach Maurice Smith's squad travels to Francis Marion University to take on the Patriots. The conference matchup tips on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on social media for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.