Dahlonega, GA – The 3rd-ranked and undefeated Clayton State women's basketball team has gotten off to a few slow starts in games this season … but not today.
The Lakers were clicking on all cylinders from the opening tip against North Georgia Saturday afternoon, leading to their 18th straight victory of the season, beating the Saints 88-56 in Dahlonega, GA.
The Lakers opened the contest with a 27-5 run in the first 10 minutes of the game and never looked back en route to a 32-point Peach Belt Conference victory. The 88 points was a season high for the Lakers.
Guard Keona Dixon, still coming back from an early season injury, was the star of the day pouring in a season-high 23 points in the win. Her effort came on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point territory.
Dixon opened the game with a 3-pointer, as Clayton State raced out to an 11-2 lead in the first 3:30 of the contest. She had another basket in the opening stretch along with two straight layups by forward Kayla Mobley and a basket by guard Kayla Pryce.
The Lakers pushed their lead out to 14-4 at the 15:46 mark on another 3-pointer by Dixon, followed by North Georgia forward Mimi Hill answering with a basket. Two straight makes in the paint by Clayton State center Shacamra Jackson gave the Lakers an 18-4 advantage six minutes into contest.
Clayton State extended its lead to 22-4 with two straight baskets by guard Drameka Griggs, followed by North Georgia guard Stephanie Huffman hitting 1-of-2 free throws to make the score 22-4. A three-point play by Mobley, followed by a steal and layup by Griggs gave Clayton State a commanding 27-5 lead with 10 minutes remaining the first half.
"It was a great team effort, and our kids really executed our game plan in a very hostile environment," said head coach Dennis Cox. "Kayla Mobley did a great job on Carnes all game and Keona Dixon is doing amazing things with no ACL. I was real pleased with our focus and intensity level today."
North Georgia cut the Laker lead to 15 points on one occasion but could come no closer. The Lakers led by 24 points, 49-25, at intermission on shot by Griggs in the final seconds. In the second half, the outcome was never in doubt, as the Lakers led by as many as 39 points late in the game.
With the win, Clayton State improves to 18-0 overall and 11-0 in Peach Belt play. North Georgia drops to 7-10 overall and 5-5 in league action. Clayton State will return home to face Georgia College on Thursday in a 5:30 p.m. game at the Athletics & Fitness Center.
Behind Dixon, Griggs finished with 16 points, followed by Mobley with 15 points and seven boards. Jackson finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, while guard Bena Hanyard also chipped in 11 points.
For North Georgia, forward Jaymee Carnes led the Saints with 17 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Hill with 11 points and guard Keeley Chester with 10 points.
Clayton State hit 31-of-68 (46 percent) from the floor, including 10-of-27 (37 percent) from three-point range. The Lakers won the battle on the offensive boards 18-8 and forced North Georgia into 23 turnovers compared to committing 11, leading to 25 more shot attempts for Clayton State.
North Georgia hit 40 percent from the floor (17-of-43) and 40 percent (4-of-10) from three-point land.
