MORROW, GA – The Clayton State women's basketball team captured its 15th straight win Saturday, downing UNC Pembroke 67-46 at the Athletics & Fitness Center.
The Lakers took control of the game late in the first half with a 14-1 spurt, aided by some sharp-shooting that included four straight 3-pointers.
Trailing 15-14, Clayton State guard Drameka Griggs ignited the run with a steal and layup with nine minutes remaining in period. After a Pembroke miss, center Shacamra Jackson drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the squad a four-point advantage. After another miss by the Braves, forward Kayla Mobley hit another 3-pointer to extend the Laker advantage to 22-15.
Pembroke's Chandrica Fuller made a free throw to trim the Laker lead to six points only to have Laker guard Keona Dixon make a 3-pointer. After a turnover by UNC Pembroke, Jackson capped the run with another 3-pointer, giving the team a 28-16 lead with 5:18 remaining in the half.
Over the next five minutes, the Lakers increased their lead, and the squad went into intermission with a 40-24 on a 3-pointer by forward Auburn Randolph in the final seconds of the half.
In the second half, Clayton State pushed its lead to 27 points, 53-26, in the first five minutes of the half with a 13-2 run to open the period. Center Shannon Smith capped the stretch with a basket in the paint with 15:56 remaining in the period. The Lakers led by at least 19 points for the remainder of the contest.
With the win, Clayton State improves to 15-0 overall and 6-0 in the Peach Belt. The loss drops UNC Pembroke to 8-9 overall and 2-6 in league play. Clayton State will return to action on Monday, hosting Francis Marion in a 5:30 p.m. game at Mason Barfield Court.
Mobley finished with a "double-double" to lead the Lakers with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Her 11 points came on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, and she also had five steals and three assists. Guard Bena Hanyard had 12 points, four assists and three steals. Griggs and Smith each chipped in nine points.
For UNC Pembroke, Courtney Bolton led the way with 10 points. Fuller and Jasmine Hairston added eight points.
Clayton State's defense, which ranks among the nation's best, was stellar again, holding Braves to 46 points and only 31 percent (15-of-48) shooting from the floor.
