Millegeville, GA – Behind a career high 28 points from senior guard Bena Hanyard, the Clayton State women's basketball team captured its 10th straight victory Wednesday, defeating Peach Belt rival Georgia College 72-59 at the Centennial Center in Milledgeville, GA.
Hanyard went 8-of-13 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from 3-point territory in the 13-point victory. After hitting 10-of-10 from the free throw line in Clayton State's win over Georgia College on Monday, she drained 9-of-11 on Wednesday from the charity stripe.
The game was tied at 39 apiece five minutes into the second half until Clayton State went on a 17-5 run over the next five minutes to take control of the contest. A basket by post Shacamra Jackson at the 10:15 mark gave the Lakers a 56-44 lead.
Georgia College cut the Laker lead to eight points, 57-49, on a basket by guard Enisha Donley with 6:59 remaining but would come no closer. Leading by nine points with 1:36 remaining, the Lakers hit 6-of-7 free throws to seal the victory.
The victory was Clayton State's 10th straight win and improved the squad to 18-5 overall and 13-3 in Peach Belt Conference play. The loss drops Georgia College to 15-8 and 8-8 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Georgia Southwestern in Americus, GA.
In the first half, Clayton State took its first lead, 8-6, on a layup by Jackson four minutes in the game. The Lakers pushed their lead to 12 points, 26-14, on a 3-pointer by guard Kayla Pryce at the 9:42 mark.
Georgia College answered over the remainder of the period and knotted the score at 33 apiece on a 3-pointer by guard Larice Walker as the buzzer sounded for halftime.
Behind Hanyard's 28 points, guard Tweety Hawkins had nine points, followed by Jackson with nine. Center Andrea Benford pulled a game-high 10 boards.
For Georgia College, Donley led the way with 26 points, followed by Walker with 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Clayton State defense held Georgia College to 30 percent (16-of-54) shooting from the floor, while the Lakers hit 46 percent (24-of-52). The Bobcats outrebounded the Lakers 42-38 and committed 15 turnovers compared to 14 for Clayton State.
