MORROW, Ga. – In a rematch of the 2011 national semifinal, No. 24 Clayton State (8-1, 0-0 PBC) showed they are clearly poised to make a run at a return to that level with a 71-42 dismantling of Shaw (2-6, 0-0 CIAA) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, December 3.
 
Redshirt-senior center Andrea Benford (Madison, Ga.) dominated play, finishing one steal shy of a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, nine steals and four assists while shooting 11-of-15 from the field.
 
There have only been two triple-doubles in the 26-year history of the program, and only eight in the 27 years that the Peach Belt has existed. Additionally, her nine steals fell just one shy of tying the program record of 10 set by Misty Amerson at USC-Upstate on February 13, 1999.
 
Senior center Rayven Thomas (North Las Vegas, Nev.) delivered another impressive performance with 11 points and 16 boards, seven of which came off of the offensive glass. Junior guard Monica Alexander (Richmond, Va.) added 10 points, four assists and four steals and redshirt-senior guard Tierra Johnson (Edison, N.J.) finished with nine points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
 
It's rare when you can say that a game was over in the first 6:27 but that was certainly the case for the Lakers. In that time they exploded out to a 28-6 lead with half of those points, as well as five steals, four rebounds and an assist, coming from Benford.
 
That margin would eventually grow to 36-13 just 33 seconds into the second quarter and a whopping 53-20 at the break. Benford finished the frame with 22 points, seven steals, six boards and three assists.
 
The second half, however, would be a different story offensively for Clayton State. While Shaw was no better on the offensive end, their defense held the Lakers to just four points, a feat that would only close the gap to 57-29 by the end of the third. They would then go on to close out the game with 14 points in the fourth for the 29 point victory.
 
Bianca Maxwell led the way for the Bears with 12 points and 14 rebounds while Brianna Washington had seven points, seven boards and three assists. Stephanie Custodio and Chelsea Long finished with 10 and nine points, respectively, to round out the top performers.
 
The Lakers are now off for an extended period of time as they do not return to action until Saturday, December 17. That day they will kick off the 2016-17 Peach Belt Conference schedule as they head to UNC Pembroke for a 1:30 p.m. game.
 
NOTES
The only players in program history to record a triple-double are Shacamra Jackson with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks vs. Columbus State on March 1, 2014 and Tanisha Woodard with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists … named to the All-Tournament were Jessica Doyle (Armstrong State), Machala Raymonville (Armstrong State), Dhyamond Crenshaw (Chowan), Bianca Maxwell (Shaw), Tierra Johnson (Clayton State) and Andrea Benford (Clayton State) … Benford was named the Most Outstanding Player.