MORROW, Ga. – For the 12 time in program history, Clayton State (20-5, 12-4 PBC) secured at least 20 wins as they fought past a challenging Georgia Southwestern (12-11, 7-9 PBC) squad on Homecoming to earn a 63-54 victory in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, February 11.
 
Senior center Rayven Thomas (North Las Vegas, Nev.) just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds, five off of the offensive glass, to lead the way while redshirt-senior center Andrea Benford (Madison, Ga.) finished with 16 points and seven boards. Senior guard Dejoun Dennard (Tampa, Fla.) finished with six assists, six rebounds and three steals and junior forward Abreyln Rackley (St. Louis, Mo.) had nine points.
 
Very little would be decided in the first 7:36 as the teams deadlocked at 9-9 before the Lakers turned a pair of steals into fastbreak layups for a 13-9 lead at the end of one. It would continue to be tight as the lead changed hands three more times before GSW managed an 18-17 lead by the 3:31 mark. At that point, Clayton State would mount a 10-1 run to close the half and head to the break with 27-19 advantage.
 
After extending the lead to 37-28 with 4:09 to go in the third, the Hurricanes would find their rhythm as they scored the next eight points to cut it to one by the 1:24 mark. The Lakers would recover quickly, however, as they scored seven of the next nine to push back to a 44-38 lead.
 
That margin would not go below four points most of the rest of the way and would eventually grow to 53-46 with 4:14 to play before GSW cut it to three, 55-52, at 2:05. That would be as close as they would get, however, as Clayton State scored eight of the last 10 points down the stretch to lock up the 63-54 victory.
 
Va'Queshia Hall led the Hurricanes with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Gabby Figgers finished with nine points. Chanice Whitton added seven points and Brittany Grant had six rebounds.
 
The Lakers continue their brief stay at home as they host Young Harris on Wednesday, February 15. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
With win marks the 12^th season, and 11th in the last 12, that the Lakers have reached at least 20 wins.