Tampa, FL – A layup by junior forward Yishica Sims with 35 seconds remaining in the game lifted the #3 Clayton State women's basketball team to a 63-62 victory Friday in its season-opener at the at the Spartan Challenge hosted by the University of Tampa.
Sims sparkled in her Laker debut, pouring in a game-high 27 points in the contest, hitting 10-of-16 shots from the field. The Jackson, GA native also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in the game.
The game came down to the final minutes, and the Lakers pulled out the victory thanks to a few clutch baskets. Clayton State took a 61-56 lead with 3:20 remaining on a 3-pointer by Laker senior guard Bena Hanyard. Florida Southern came right back with a jumper to cut the lead to three points, 61-58, on a jumper by Morgan Lamberg.
After Clayton State missed on two straight possessions, Florida Southern retook the lead with two straight baskets by Taylor Maldonado. Her second basket gave the Mocs a 62-61 lead with 58 seconds, setting up Sims' game-winning basket.
The win gives Clayton State a 1-0 record on the season. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday in Spartan Challenge, facing host Tampa in a 2:30 p.m. contest.
Clayton State trailed 36-24 at halftime and by as many as 14 points in the first half. The Lakers came back with a 6-1 run to open the second half capped by a 3-pointer by Sims to cut the deficit to 37-30 with 18:47 remaining. The Lakers then went on a 10-2 run and took a 40-39 lead on a basket by forward Andrea Benford at the 15:37 mark.
Florida Southern came back and pushed its lead to eight points, 48-40, with 12:33 remaining in the game. The Lakers cut the Moc lead to three points on a layup by Benford with 5:38 remaining. Neither team led by more than four points over the final five minutes of the game.
Behind Sims' 27 points, center Shacamra Jackson finished with 12 points, followed by Benford with nine points and five rebounds.
Maldonado led Florida Southern with 26 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Guard Ali Sanders finished with eight points.
The Lakers struggled from the field, hitting only 32 percent (24-of-75) from the floor for the game. Florida Southern shot 43 percent (23-of-54). The Lakers committed 17 turnovers compared to 24 for Florida Southern. The Mocs held a slim 44-43 edge on the boards.
