AIKEN, S.C. – Clayton State (4-4, 1-1 PBC) used another strong second half as they outscored USC Aiken (3-5, 0-2 PBC) 40-18 over the final 20 minutes to earn a 74-53 victory in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, December 16.
 
Junior forward Abreyln Rackley (St. Louis, Mo.) led the way with a career-high 18 points along with eight rebounds while junior guard TaKwana Bland (Williamston, N.C.) produced a career-best 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with four boards and a pair of steals.
 
Junior guard Aysia Grimsley (Marietta, Ga.) tied her career-high with 13 points and freshman guard Tatiana Foster (Atlanta, Ga.) added eight points and a career-tying six steals in 27 minutes. Redshirt-junior guard Kietta Saunders (Chicago, Ill.) rounded things out with four steals, three assists and four boards.
 
The first 10 minutes of action would be a tug-of-war as the teams deadlocked six times and saw the lead change hands five times before Clayton State notched a 20-19 advantage entering the second quarter. They would extend that lead to 24-21 by the 8:11 mark behind an overall run of 7-2 before the Pacers responded.
 
That response would come in the form of an 8-2 stretch of their own that flipped the script and gave them a 29-26 lead at the 4:39 mark. The Lakers would stem the tide and tie it up at 30-30 just over two minutes later before USCA closed the half with a narrow 35-34 lead.
 
Clayton State continued to show that they are a second half team as they erupted for a 17-3 run over the first 6:48 of the third period. That outburst took them from down one to up 51-38 and would be a margin that the Pacers would not be able to overcome. The Lakers would keep them at bay as they outscored them 18-13 in the fourth quarter to seal the 74-53 victory.
 
Kyrie' Chandler and Emily Waters each scored a team-high 11 points to pace USC Aiken while Shay Fluellyn just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight boards. Melyk Taouil added seven points, four caroms, three steals and a pair of assists and Marissa Bruce chipped in with five points and six rebounds.
 
The Lakers are right back in action as they continue their South Carolina swing with a trip to Lander on Tuesday, December 19. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. in Greenwood, South Carolina.
 
NOTES
Rackley's previous career-high was 17 points at Francis Marion on January 7, 2017 … as a team, Clayton State went 16-of-19 (.842) at the foul line and forced 26 turnovers.