Morrow, GA – The Clayton State women's basketball team got back on the winning track Wednesday, defeating an old Peach Belt Conference rival USC Aiken at the Athletics Center.
The Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak defeating the Pacers 75-53.
Clayton State held a 36-27 lead at intermission only to have USC Aiken open the period with four quick points to the cut the Laker lead to five points, 36-31. The Lakers responded though with a 12-4 run over the next three minutes to take control of the game.
Guard Kayla Pryce ignited the Lakers run draining a 3-pointer, followed by a basket by forward Shacamra Jackson and then seven straight points by Andrea Benford. The sophomore center had two baskets in the paint, followed by hitting a 3-pointer to give the team a 48-35 lead with 15:19 remaining in the game.
Clayton State maintained its double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest and pushed its lead to 19 points, 60-41, on a jumper by forward Kiana Morton with 9:44 remaining. The Lakers took a 20-point advantage on a free throw Morton with 2:03 left in the game.
With the win, Clayton State improves to 9-5 overall and 4-3 in Peach Belt Conference play. USC Aiken drops to 3-11 overall and 1-4 in the league. The three-game losing streak for the Lakers was the first time head coach Dennis Cox's teams had lost three straight in his 10 years at Clayton State.
The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face UNC Pembroke in a 1:30 p.m. game in Pembroke, NC.
Morton led a trio of Lakers in double-digits with 16 points. She hit 7-of-12 from the field and finished with five rebounds and three assists. Jackson had 15 points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Benford chipped in 16 points to go along with nine boards.
For USC Aiken, guard Kate Duff finished with 14 points, followed guard Mackenzie Reese with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Clayton State shot 48 percent (30-of-63) from the floor compared to only 39 percent (22-of-57) for USC Aiken. The Lakers hit 9-of-19 from 3-point territory compared to only 4-of-15 for the Pacers.
The Lakers won the battle on the boards 38-37, and Clayton State committed 19 turnovers compared to 26 for the Pacers. Clayton State cashed in on the Pacer mistakes scoring 27 points off USC Aiken turnovers.
