Young Harris, GA – For the fourth straight season, the Clayton State women's basketball program can call themselves Peach Belt Conference regular season champions.
The Lakers earned the right Wednesday, securing at least a share of the 2014 Peach Belt Conference Championship with a 70-67 overtime road victory over Young Harris. The Lakers now hold a one-game lead in the conference standings with one PBC game remaining.
Clayton State, 20-5 overall and 15-3 in PBC play, will close the regular season on Saturday hosting Peach Belt rival Columbus State in a 1:30 p.m. contest at the Athletics Center, which will also be Senior Day. A win over the Cougars will give the Lakers the PBC title outright. Clayton State is currently riding a 12-game winning streak.
"It was a battle tonight," said head coach Dennis Cox. "Young Harris played so tough and motivated. I thought we were in control most of the game, but we lost our focus just long enough to let them grab the momentum. We were very fortunate to win that one."
The Peach Belt victory didn't come easy over the Mountain Lions, as the Lakers prevailed by three points in overtime. With the game tied at 67 apiece and 55 seconds remaining, a driving shot in the lane by senior guard Bena Hanyard turned out to be the game-winner.
The Lakers forced the Nighthawks into a turnover on their ensuing possession before forward Shacamra Jackson was fouled trying to stick in a rebound. She hit 1-of-2 free throws with 18 seconds left. Young Harris had one last chance to tie with a 3-pointer but was unable to get a good look from behind the arc.
Clayton State opened the overtime period with two free throws by Hanyard before Young Harris rattled off four straight points. A basket by guard Tweety Hawkins tied the score at 67 apiece with 2:11 remaining.
The Lakers held a 10-point advantage with 8:39 left in the game on two free throws by Jackson, only to have Young Harris answer. The Nighthawks tied the game at 61 on a basket by forward Shereese Williams with 3:31 remaining.
Clayton State retook the lead, 63-61, with a basket by center Andrea Benford, followed by Young Harris' Keta Robinette tying the game with 50 seconds left. After both teams had a turnover, the Lakers were unable to get off a final shot as regulation ended.
The Lakers led 36-29 at intermission and led by as many as 12 points with 11:21 remaining on a 3-pointer by guard Tiayra Green.
Benford led the Clayton State attack with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the game. She drained 9-of-13 shots from the floor. Hanyard finished 15 points and 10 boards, hitting 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Jackson added 15 points and six rebounds, making 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
For Young Harris, forward Ladondra Johnson finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds, followed by guard Lauren Smith with 17 points. Center Kaycee Cash chipped in 12 points.
Clayton State hit 49 percent (26-of-53) from the floor, while Young Harris shot 41 percent (25-of-61) from the field. The Lakers held a 36-34 advantage on the boards and committed 28 turnovers compared to 24 for Young Harris.
Along with the Peach Belt title being the program's fourth straight, it also marks Clayton State's seventh in the last 10 years, all coming under the leadership of Cox, who captured the regular season title in his first season in 2003-04.
The Lakers also become the first PBC program to win four straight regular season titles surpassing USC Spartanburg, who had also won three straight back in the 90s. The program's seven regular season championships are the most of any PBC school.
