MORROW, Ga. – In what was a nip-and-tuck affair for much of the second half, Clayton State (2-0, 0-0 PBC) relied on the clutch shooting of senior forward Velencia Johnson (Hoover, Ala.) in the final minutes to take down No. 21 Wingate (1-1, 0-0 SAC) by a 56-54 score in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, November 10.
 
Redshirt-junior guard Madison Newby (Lawrenceville, Ga.) produced her second straight impressive outing as she finished with a game-high 15 points to go with three assists, a pair of steals and three rebounds.
 
Joining her with 11 points and four steals in 22 minutes was junior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) as well as Johnson with nine points, five boards and two steals. Redshirt-senior guard Monica Alexander (Richmond, Va.) had six points, four of them very key, along with two assists and a pair of steals.
 
Clayton State jumped out to the early lead at 9-2 behind four different scorers before pushing to a 12-5 margin by the 3:45 mark. The Bulldogs then responded with a 17-7 run that extended into the second quarter and gave them a 19-16 advantage with 8:42 on the clock. They would go on to a 25-18 margin three minutes later before heading to the break up 31-23.
 
The Lakers came out of the half and cut the deficit to 33-29 with six quick points but would find themselves down 37-30 by the 4:29 mark. That would change rapidly when Alexander, under pressure deep in the near corner, drained a three, got fouled and knocked down a free throw for a rare four-point play 12 seconds later. That sparked a 12-4 run that took them from down seven to up 42-41 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Wingate wouldn't let it stay that way for long, however, as they opened the final period with four straight points over the first 2:43 to regain the lead at 45-42. A 6-0 burst, capped by a Wilson steal and fastbreak layup, then put Clayton State back ahead at 48-45 at the 5:28 mark.
 
That mini run would quickly be answered by another four points from the Bulldogs and kick off a series of three lead changes. The last of those would see WU up 51-50 at 3:25 but Johnson would take care of that. She drove to the hole to retake the lead, and then following a tying free throw from Jordan Quick, nailed a three from the left wing to make it 55-52 with 1:43 to play.
 
Far from over and with work yet to be done, the Lakers got down to business and forced a turnover on the next possession. Courtney Robinson would cut it to one with a pair of free throws with 53 seconds to play but those would be the last points Wingate would see.
 
They were unable to capitalize on a turnover, missing a layup at the other end, and could only watch as Newby converted one of two free throws to make it 56-54 with just 16 seconds left on the clock.
 
With five seconds remaining, Robinson missed another layup and a foul sent Clayton State to the line. A pair of misses kept Wingate's hopes alive, only to see them dashed as a jumper as time expired went awry and secured the two point decision.
 
Caroline Averette led the way for the Bulldogs with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and Teliyah Jeter just missed a double-double with eight points and 10 boards to go along with three steals in 33 minutes. Danasia Witherspoon added six points five caroms and three steals and Robinson rounded things out with six points and five rebounds.
 
"I'm very pleased with the outcome of this weekend," said head coach Kaleena Coleman. "We played two very good teams, but I'm happy about the fight in this team. We had some big individual performances, but, overall great team wins!"
 
The Lakers continue a season opening three-game homestand on Thursday, November 15 when they host Tusculum, whom they haven't played since 2013. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
With the win, Clayton State now holds a 6-5 all-time series lead against Wingate and avenges a 59-48 loss in last year's PBC/SAC Challenge … overall the Lakers have won six of the last eight meetings, including three of the four most recent.
 

No. 21 Wingate vs. Clayton State (11/10/18)