DAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's basketball team knocked off No. 16 Nova Southeastern 64-56 in the final game of the Bryan Properties UNG Nighthawk Classic at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.

After the Sharks scored the most points in program history (111) the day prior, the Nighthawks held their foe to just 54 points on 37 percent field goal shooting on Saturday. 54 points is the third-lowest total in a game for NSU in the last two seasons.

In a low-scoring effort, UNG utilized double-digit performances from three different scorers to pull out the win. Seven different Nighthawks scored six or more points in the victory. 23 of UNG's 64 points came from the bench as the Nighthawks shot 50 percent (21-of-42) from the floor, its highest mark through four games this season.

Graduate guard Caroline Martin led the way with 11 points while adding eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.

UNG showed its true colors after surrendering a 10-point third quarter lead, allowing the Sharks to take their first lead of the game.

The Nighthawks led 39-29 with 7:07 to play in the frame before NSU sparked a big run. The Sharks exploded for a 15-2 run in just under three minutes to take a 44-41 lead. 

Against its first ranked opponent of the season, it would've been easy and even understandable if the Nighthawks caved under the pressure. Instead, UNG responded with an 8-0 run before NSU scored a last-second layup to close the quarter. 

The Nighthawks went into the fourth with a 49-46 lead. 

As the two teams battled back and forth in the final quarter, UNG gained momentum from one of the most impressive highlight plays in the game. After setting a screen and rolling towards the cup, senior guard Carly Fahey received a pass just outside the lane line. Fahey sensed a double-team coming from the far side and without hesitation tipped the ball across the lane to sophomore forward Kendall Emener who would convert the wide open layup. Emener finished the night with six points and four boards while going a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor. 

a layup from the Sharks cut into UNG's lead making it 54-52 with just 4:11 remaining. 

Senior guard Dasha Cannon then came up clutch with a big layup to inject some momentum into the four-point Nighthawk lead. 

Trading buckets again, another NSU layup made it 58-56 UNG with two-and-a-half minutes remaining. It would be the last Shark score of the game. 

On the ensuing offensive possession, Nighthawk freshman guard Averie Jones came up with one of the biggest plays of the game. The lethal shooter stepped out and attempted a three from the left wing. Sensing the shot was going to fall short, Jones curled around a defender and charged the rim. As the ball caromed off the underside of the rim, Jones grabbed her own miss and laid the ball up uncontested to stretch the lead back to four points. 

Jones had 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting with three rebounds and a pair of assists in her fourth collegiate game. The Dahlonega native posted back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts in the UNG Nighthawk Classic. 

Then UNG's defense stepped up in a big way in the final two minutes, forcing a turnover and holding NSU to an 0-for-4 mark to close the game. 

Senior guard Ansley Hall would convert on four consecutive free throws in the closing minutes of the game, cementing the Nighthawks' first win over a ranked opponent since Nov. 27 of last season. Hall finished the game with seven points and a game-high five assists while going 5-for-6 at the charity stripe. The Nighthawks have now compiled an astonishing 18-2 record in UNG Nighthawk Classic games. 

UNG is now 12-6 against ranked opponents over the last six seasons. The Nighthawks have five more ranked opponents on the schedule this season, the first of which is No. 14 Carson-Newman on Saturday, Dec. 21. 

Until then, UNG will get ready for a non-conference matchup with Allen on Friday, Nov. 22 from the UNG Convocation Center at 5:30 p.m.