SAVANNAH, Ga. – No. 24 Clayton State (3-0, 0-0 PBC) used five double-digit scoring efforts as they downed Livingstone (1-1, 0-0 SIAC) by 91-79 score in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Friday, November 18. The game was the first of the Third Annual BJ Ford Classic hosted by Armstrong State.
 
Redshirt-senior guard Tierra Johnson (Edison, N.J.) notched her second consecutive game of at least 20 points as she hit that mark along with four boards and three blocks. She was joined by junior forward Abreyln Rackley (St. Louis, Mo.), who posted another stellar effort with 15 points, 14 rebounds and four steals in just 25 minutes.
 
Junior center Rayven Thomas (North Las Vegas, Nev.) came within one board of a double-double herself, finishing with 15 points, nine caroms and four steals. Redshirt-senior guard Tweety Hawkins (Madison, Ga.) and redshirt-senior center Andrea Benford (Madison, Ga.) each added 11 points to round out the top performers.
 
The first quarter would see a back-and-forth affair as the lead changed hands four times with the teams never separated by more than five points. The final lead change of the frame would put the Lakers up 19-18 after 10 minutes and spark a 21-7 run that gave them a 38-25 advantage at the 1:28 mark of the second quarter.
 
That stretch would see four different players score at least four points with Rackley capping the run with a three-pointer for five points over that period. From there, Clayton State would add a pair of buckets and close out the first half with a 42-29 margin.
 
In the third quarter it would be much of the same as the Lakers would maintain at least an eight point lead before expanding to a 67-46 lead with 58 seconds left. The Blue Bears would close out the quarter with a 9-1 run to cut it to 68-55 but would quickly be caged as a 10-5 stretch pushed the lead to 76-60 by the 6:25 mark.
 
Livingstone wouldn't go away completely, however, as they clawed back to within 81-69 with just under four minutes to play. They would get no closer than 10 points down the stretch, however, as the Lakers locked up the 91-79 victory.
 
Zena Lovette led the way for the Blue Bears with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three steals while Brittany Taylor had 16 points, nine boards and three steals. Shannon Buchanan had 11 points and eight caroms while Ari Dejesus finished with 12 points and five boards.
 
The Lakers are back in action tomorrow, Saturday, November 19 when they take on Barton. Game time is set for 2 p.m. in Savannah, Georgia.