(DAHLONEGA) – A career night for Kayla Massop helped the No. 16 University of North Georgia women’s basketball team defeat Clayton State, 80-71, in their Peach Belt Conference victory over the Lakers in Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center. Massop finished with a career-high in rebounds (19) and assists (7) and recorded her third consecutive double-double by scoring 14 points.

Massop secured her double-double by the halftime break while the Nighthawks held a 14-point advantage. UNG struggled in the third quarter but answered in the fourth to pull away. Kaylee Sticker also recorded a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Four Nighthawks finished in double-digit scoring, with Caroline Martin leading the way with 20 points. Josie Earnhardt finished third in scoring with 13 points, making three of her four attempts from beyond the arc.

North Georgia moves to 12-2 on the season, and 4-1 in the Peach Belt Conference play. 

Key Moments

  • A 7-0 run to end the first quarter put the Nighthawks ahead by 10 points.
  • Earnhardt made two straight three-point shots at the 5:51 mark and the 5:02 mark to put the Nighthawks up by 17 points, leading 37-20.
  • North Georgia led by as much as 20 after UNG scored six straight points with 3:01 left in the first half.
  • CSU scored five straight to end the half cutting the deficit to 14, trailing 49-35.
  • The Nighthawks led by 19 at the 6:06 mark of the third quarter. A 12-0 run by the Lakers made it a 56-49 game with 3:29 remaining in the third.
  • After a UNG made free throw put the lead at eight, CSU scored eight straight points to tie the game at 57.
  • The Lakers took their first lead of the game to open up the fourth quarter leading 61-59.
  • North Georgia tied the game at 61 before CSU retook the lead. The Nighthawks would take back the lead with 7:03 left, holding it for the rest of the game.
  • The Nighthawks would pull away with 3:52 remaining, making three straight threes to take a 10-point lead.

Next Up

North Georgia will hit the road and head to Georgia College (9-6) for the second half of their two-game season series. North Georgia and Georgia College will tip off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14.

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