MORROW, GA – The 2nd-ranked Clayton State women's basketball team defeated Georgia Southwestern 91-43 Saturday on Senior Night and got a little help from Stonehill earlier in the day and is now the only undefeated team at the NCAA Division II level.
The Lakers improved their record to 25-0 overall and 18-0 in Peach Belt Conference play, while top-ranked Bentley fell 73-66, leaving Clayton State as the lone women's team in the country with an unblemished record. The loss by Bentley and the Clayton State win more than likely means the Lakers will claim the No. 1 ranking next week in the USA Today Sports/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll to be released Tuesday.
Georgia Southwestern falls to 3-22 overall and 1-17 in Peach Belt Conference play. The Lakers will return to action next Saturday, traveling to face Columbus State in its regular season finale.
In Saturday's game, the Lakers wasted no time jumping out to big lead, taking a 15-2 advantage five minutes into the game on a layup by senior Keona Dixon. Clayton State kept up the pressure over the next 10 minutes and took a 21-point lead, 31-10 on a basket in the paint by guard Kayla Pryce with 4:37 remaining in the half.
Clayton State extended its lead to 26 points on a layup by Pryce with 3:31 remaining and led by the same margin at intermission as forward Jessica Covington scored in the closing seconds.
In the second half, Clayton State led by at least 20 points for the remainder of the game and pushed its lead to 40 points, 81-41, with 2:55 remaining. The Lakers took their largest lead, 91-43, on a three-pointer by forward Auburn Randolph in the final seconds.
For Clayton State, senior All-American hopeful Drameka Griggs once again led the attack with 21 points, hitting 6-of-14 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. She also had five assists and four steals. Randolph finished with 14 points, hitting 5-of-7 from the floor.
Senior forward Kayla Mobley chipped in 11 points to go along eight rebounds, while Covington added 10 points.
Forward Briana Walker scored 11 points and pulled eight rebounds to lead the Hurricanes.
Clayton State shot a sizzling 53 percent (30-of-57) from the floor, while holding Georgia Southwestern to 21 percent (14-of-67).
