Morrow, GA  – The Clayton State women's basketball team raced out to a quick first half lead Wednesday and never looked back capturing its sixth straight win, defeating GRU Augusta 62-42 at the Athletics Center.

The Lakers opened the game with a 15-4 run in the first seven minutes of the contest, hitting six of their first 12 shots, including a trio of 3-pointers. Guard Tiayra Green opened the game draining two straight 3-pointers and forward Shacamra Jackson capped the run with a shot from behind the arc to give the squad an 11-point advantage.

Clayton State maintained at least a nine-point lead over the next four minutes before going on another run to push its lead to 20 points. A 13-2 stretch over five minutes gave the Lakers a 32-12 lead with 4:45 remaining in the half. Center Andrea Benford scored the final basket of the run with a shot in the paint.

The Lakers kept up the pressure and took a 38-17 lead at halftime thanks to a free throw by Green in the final seconds of the stanza.

In the second half, Clayton State opened the period with a basket by Benford taking its largest lead of the game, 40-17. The Lakers led by at least 15 points for the remainder of the contest.

"We defended well with our feet tonight," said head coach Dennis Cox. "We had a lot of respect for a very talented Augusta team and our kids were ready to play from the tip."

With the win, Clayton State improves to 14-5 overall and 9-3 in the league. GRU Augusta drops to 9-10 on the year and 5-7 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Montevallo.

Jackson led the Lakers with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks. Green added 12 points, followed by Benford with a double-double of 11 points and 11 boards. Guard Bena Hanyard chipped in 10 points and pulled eight rebounds.

For the Jaguars, guard Tavia Sykes led the way with 12 points.

Clayton State turned in one of its top defensive performances of the season, holding GRU Augusta to 28 percent (17-of-61) shooting from the floor. The Lakers hits 40 percent (22-of-55) from the field. Clayton State won the battle on the boards 46-37 and committed 20 turnovers compared to 19 for the Jaguars.

The Lakers outscored GRU Augusta 34-22 in the paint, 20-13 off turnovers and 18-10 on second chance points.