YOUNG HARRIS, GA – The 3rd-ranked Clayton State women's basketball team pushed its record to 12-0 on the season Thursday, defeating Peach Belt Conference foe Young Harris 75-57.
The Lakers led much of the contest, taking the lead for good five minutes into the game on basket by center Shannon Smith, giving Clayton State an 8-7 lead. The Lakers took their first double-digit lead, 21-11, as forward Jessica Covington drained a 3-pointer with 7:58 remaining in the half.
Clayton State led by at least eight points for the remainder of the period and took at 38-26 lead at intermission on a shot by guard Drameka Griggs.
In the second half, the Lakers pushed their lead to 14 points in the opening minutes on a basket in the paint by Covington and never looked back. The Lakers led by double-digits for the rest of the game. A 3-pointer by guard Kayla Pryce with 11:20 left in the contest gave the squad a commanding 20-point lead, 58-38.
Clayton State led by as many 26 points on two different occasions before Young Harris battled back to cut into the Laker deficit scoring six unanswered points in the final minute.
"Young Harris is a very talented team and very good on its home floor, so we had to play our best ball," said head coach Dennis Cox. "Our focus and intensity level was good tonight. It is always good to get a conference win on the road."
With the win, the Lakers improve to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in Peach Belt play, while Young Harris drops to 7-4 and 1-3 in the conference. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, hosting PBC opponent North Georgia in a 5:30 p.m. game.
The Lakers had a balanced attack in the win with four players in double-digits. Griggs finished with 18 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. She also had four assists and four steals.
Smith finished 16 points, hitting 6-of-10 from the floor and also pulled eight boards. Center Shacamra Jackson had 11 points, seven rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Pryce chipped in 10 points and had six boards.
For Young Harris, Ladondra Johnson poured in 34 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Mountain Lions.
Young Harris shot better from the field than the Lakers, hitting 46 percent (23-50) from the field compared to Clayton State making 43 percent (26-60) from the floor. The Lakers forced the Mountain Lions into 27 turnovers to get the extra shot opportunities.
