Morrow, GA – Trailing 59-57 with 8:50 remaining Saturday, the 7th-ranked Clayton State women's basketball team went on a 17-0 run over the next three minutes for an 87-65 Peach Belt Conference victory over Georgia Southwestern at the Athletics Center.
The Clayton State duo of junior forward Yishica Sims and senior forward Shacamra Jackson came up big in the game-winning stretch. Sims scored all of her 10 points, which included two 3-pointers, and Jackson converted two old-fashioned 3-point plays during the three-minute span.
Sims ignited the run giving the Lakers a 60-59 lead on a three-pointer with 8:14 remaining in the contest. Jackson capped the stretch with a basket and free throw at the 5:52 mark, giving the Lakers a 15-point lead, 74-59.
Clayton State pulled away later in the half, pushing its lead to over 20 points on a layup by Jackson with 2:21 remaining and then to a game-high 24 points, 87-63, on a free throw by sophomore guard Kayla Pryce.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. Georgia Southwestern drops to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Friday, hosting Southern Poly in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic. Tip-off for the game at the Athletics Center is 5:30 p.m.
Clayton State led 47-34 at intermission only to have the Hurricanes storm back five minutes into the second half. After leading by 17 points, 55-38, Georgia Southwestern went on a 21-2 run over an eight-minute stretch to take its first and only lead of the game. A jumper by guard Tiara Thompson gave the Hurricanes a 59-57, setting up Clayton State's game-deciding stretch.
Laker sophomore center Andrea Benford led the Laker attack with 20 points, hitting 8-of-12 from the floor. She also pulled a team-high 12 rebounds. Jackson finished with 19 points, hitting 8-of-12 from the field, to go along with eight rebounds and eight blocks. Senior forward Kiana Morton added 15 points, followed by sophomore guard Tiayra Green with 12 points.
For the Hurricanes, forward Shanedra Lockett finished with a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Jasmine McSwain added 14 points, while guard Tiara Thompson chipped in 12 points.
The Lakers shot 49 percent (33-of-67) from the floor, while holding Georgia Southwestern to 34 percent (22-of-64). The Hurricanes held a 47-42 edge on the boards but committed 27 turnovers compared to 20 for Clayton State.
