Full Game Video I Georgia's Own Postgame Interview
 
MORROW, Ga. – Facing their rival in their Peach Belt Conference opener, Clayton State (7-1, 1-0 PBC) powered past Lander (7-3, 1-1 PBC) 82-61 in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Thursday, December 17.
 
Redshirt-junior center Andrea Benford (Madison, Ga.) put up a monster game with 16 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in 27 minutes of work. She was joined by redshirt-senior forward Jessica Covington (Tifton, Ga.) and senior guard Kenisha Jones-Barrett (Winter Haven, Fla.), each of whom finished with 12 points and three steals. Rounding out the top performers was senior guard Kayla Pryce (Melbourne, Fla.) with 10 points, three assists and a pair of rebounds.
 
Deadlocked at 6-6 at the 5:24 mark, Lander would score the next five points to take an 11-6 lead with 4:17 left in the opening quarter. That would begin a game of runs as the Lakers notched four straight points to cut it to one before the Bearcats answered with an identical run to leave it at 15-10 by the 1:55 mark. Clayton State would have the final run as they scored eight of the next 10 points to pull ahead 18-17 by the 8:52 mark of the second.
 
From there, the lead changed hands eight straight times, ending up with Clayton State holding a narrow 26-25 advantage by the 6:02 mark. They would extend that margin to 34-29 just under three minutes later before Lander tied it at 35-35 with 19 seconds left. A pair of free throws by Covington and a full court layup in the last four seconds by Johnson then took the Lakers to the break with a 39-35 lead.
 
That run would continue at the start of the second half as they made it 12-0 and took a 47-35 lead by the 8:14 mark of the third. The Bearcats would close to within six at 47-41 before Clayton State pushed back out to a 56-47 advantage at the 1:41 mark.
 
The margin would grow to 70-57 just over five minutes into the fourth. The Bearcats would close to within 10 points at 70-60 before the Lakers scored six straight points to make it 76-60 with 1:44 to play. From there, they would polish off the 82-61 victory.
 
Ty'Hesha Reynolds led Lander with 17 points, going 11-of-12 from the line, while Breshay Johnson had 13 points and seven boards. Bre Crum finished with a solid all-around game of eight points, five rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists and Mylea McKenith had nine points, three assists and two steals.
 
The Lakers continue their tour along the top of the Peach Belt Conference when they host No. 15 Francis Marion on Saturday, December 19. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. at The Loch.