MORROW, Ga. – On August 18, 1997, Clayton State Athletics completed a significant transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. The 2017-18 season marked the 20^th anniversary of that accomplishment. Over a seven week span, the Sports Information Office is releasing the top 20 moments in the NCAA era, one on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday with select exceptions.
 
No. 15 Moment: Women's Basketball Makes First Elite Eight in 2006-07
The countdown continues with the No. 15 moment, Women's Basketball Makes First Elite Eight in 2006-07.
 
The men's cross country program delivered its first Peach Belt Conference team and individual championships, a third place finish in the South Region meet and first appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championships. In the latter, the Lakers would finish 23^rd overall.
 
Below is the original release from the South Atlantic Regional Championship Game on March 12, 2007.
   
MORROW, Ga. – It's on to Kearney, Nebraska and the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's "Elite Eight" for the Clayton State Lakers.
 
Playing host to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Championship game on Monday, Clayton State needed overtime, but it was enough to edge in-state Peach Belt Conference rival Georgia College 66-65 at the Athletics and Fitness Center. No. 16 Clayton State improves to 28-5 overall with its seventh straight victory and ninth in the last 10 games.
 
The Lakers now prepare for the program's first ever trip to the Division II "Elite Eight," which starts next Wednesday (Mar. 21) in Kearney. Clayton State will play South Central Regional champion Texas A&M-Commerce at 7 p.m. EDT.
 
Playing each other for the fourth time this season, there was nothing much more to hide between the two teams, and both left everything on the court.
 
After leading 38-38 at halftime, Clayton State led by as much as 12 points early in the second half. Crystal Brown's 3-point play gave the Lakers a 42-30 lead with 17:40 remaining. However, Georgia College methodically battled its way back, using a 16-4 run to tie the game.
 
Marquita Driskell nailed four straight free throws, and then a long 3-point basket by Shanice Dawson tied the game at 46-46 at the 10:32 mark.
 
Clayton State pushed the lead back to seven points, 57-50 on a lay-up off an offensive rebound by Sharon Wiles with 4:35 remaining. But that was the last field goal that the Lakers would convert in regulation play. Georgia College tied the game 58-58 on a driving lay-up by Lindsey Smith with 56 seconds remaining.
 
The Lady Bobcats had a final opportunity for the game-winner, but Driskell could not convert a lay-up in traffic as time expired.
 
Clayton State scored the first two baskets in the extra session – a driving lay-up by Nikkisha Pritchett and a turnaround jump shot by Jackson – to lead 62-58 with 2:39 remaining. The closest Georgia College got until the final seconds was a lay-up by Driskell to make the Laker lead 62-60 at the 1:48 mark.
 
Shantel Ragin paced the Lakers with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals to garner South Atlantic Regional Most Valuable Player honors. Wiles scored 12 points to garner All-Tournament honors, while Brown and Marie St. Fort both scored nine points and Jackson added eight points, six rebounds and five blocked shots for Clayton State.
 
For Georgia College (22-10), Driskell recorded her third straight double-double of the tournament with 21 points and 15 rebounds. In the Lady Bobcats' three games, the 6-foot-2 Driskell averaged 28 points and 15 rebounds. Ashley Williams scored 10 points for Georgia College. 
 
Schedule of NCAA 20^th Anniversary Countdown Releases
No. 1 (July 11)
No. 2 (July 9)
No. 3 (July 5)
No. 4 (July 2)
No. 5 (June 29)
No. 6 (June 27)
No. 7 (June 25)
No. 8 (June 22)
No. 9 (June 20)
No. 10 (June 18)
No. 11 (June 15)
No. 12 (June 13)
No. 13 (June 11)
No. 14 (June 8)
No. 15 Women's Basketball Makes First Elite Eight in 2006-07 (June 6)
No. 16 Men's Cross Country Delivers Record Setting 2005 Season (June 4)
No. 17 Women's Basketball Wins No. 1 vs. No. 2 Game vs. Lander on February 10, 2011 (June 1)
No. 18 Men's Basketball Wins First Ever PBC Championship in 2001-02 Regular Season Finale (May 30)
No. 19 Women's Cross Country Wins PBC, Heads to 2012 NCAA National Championships (May 28)
No. 20 Women's Tennis Makes NCAA Tournament in 1999 (May 25)