Due West, S.C. – Karen Donehew led North Greenville with 17-points in her first collegiate start while Cameron Carter added 11-points in NGU’s 73-46 loss to North Georgia on Friday night to open the 2016-2017 season.

The first half action remained close until the closing minutes. NGU led for much of the first quarter but the Nighthawks grabbed a slim 15-14 advantage as the period came to an end. The Crusaders would face a larger deficit in the second period as North Georgia took advantage of a three-minute scoring drought with a 10-0 run. NGU trailed 31-23 at intermission.

The Hawks outscored the Crusaders 21-12 in the third quarter to pad their advantage. North Greenville’s offense continued its struggles heading into the fourth quarter as North Georgia opened the period on a 5-0 run en-route to a 27-point victory.

The Crusaders shot just 26.8 percent from the field during Friday’s game while the Nighthawks hit 45-percent of their shots. Divonnie Powell led North Greenville with eight rebounds and two steals on the defensive end of the floor.

North Greenville falls to 0-1 on the season after Friday’s setback. The Crusaders will take on Francis Marion on Saturday at 5pm in Due West, South Carolina to wrap up the Conference Carolinas Peach Belt Challenge