Milledgeville, GA – A 22-point Laker win over Georgia College on Thursday, coupled with a little help from Flager, secured Clayton State's sixth regular season Peach Belt Conference Women's Basketball Championship in the last nine years.
The 3rd-ranked Lakers improved to 23-0 overall and 16-0 in the Peach Belt with a 71-49 win over the Bobcats in Milledgeville. Flagler defeated #12 USC Aiken 63-38 on Thursday, giving the PBC's second place Pacers (14-4; 11-4 PBC) four losses with only three Peach Belt games remaining for Clayton State. The regular season conference title for the Lakers is the third straight for the Clayton State program.
"We played very well defensively in the first half, which set the tone for the win," said head coach Dennis Cox. We took advantage of our size in the post and rebounded well. It was a solid win on the road against a good Georgia College team."
Clayton State led from the opening tip and never looked back Thursday, taking an 8-0 lead on a basket by center Shannon Smith five minutes into the game. Georgia College answered with a 6-0 run and cut the deficit to a basket with 11:47 remaining in the first half but that was as close as the Bobcats would come.
The Lakers took control of the game over the next five minutes with a 17-3 run. Two free throws by guard Drameka Griggs started the run, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers by forward Jessica Covington to give Clayton State a 16-6 lead at the 9:26 mark.
Forward Kayla Mobley scored two straight baskets to push the Laker lead to 14 points, followed by a jumper and a 3-pointer by Griggs to cap the run and give the Lakers a 25-9 with five minutes until halftime. Both teams exchanged baskets leading into the half and Clayton State led 34-16 at intermission.
In the second half, Clayton State put the game out of reach in the first four minutes of the period, opening with an 11-0 stretch to seal the victory. A 3-point play on a layup and free throw by Griggs gave the Lakers a 31-point lead, 47-16, with 15:47 remaining.
Clayton State, who ranks second in the nation in scoring margin, led by at least 20 points for the remainder of the game, en route to the victory.
Griggs finished with a game high 21 points, followed by Mobley with 12 points and nine rebounds. Center Shacamra Jackson and Covington each finished with 10 points.
For Georgia College, Enisha Donley led the Bobcats with 17 points, followed by Khanteona Keys with 11.
Clayton State will return to actionon Saturday, traveling to play Montevallo in Montevallo, AL.
