ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A 16-5 run in overtime, fueled by 10 points from junior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.), powered Clayton State (4-2, 1-0 PBC) past Flagler (4-3, 0-1 PBC) by an 87-76 score in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, December 1.
 
Wilson led all scorers with a game-high 23 points, on 9-of-10 shooting at the foul line, to go with four steals and four rebounds, while senior center Aleisha Merriweather (Augusta, Ga.) finished with 18 points, four steals and four caroms.
 
Senior guard TaKwana Bland (Williamston, N.C.) notched 14 points and a career-high seven boards and redshirt-junior guard Madison Newby (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had nine points and three assists. Sophomore guard Tatiana Foster (Atlanta, Ga.) rounded things out with nine points.
 
Over the first 4:05 the lead would change hands four times and the team's deadlock three times before Flagler held a 10-6 lead by the 5:09 mark. Following a Towns three-pointer that cut it to one, the Saints would rattle of nine straight points, six of them by Malaysia Robinson, to stretch to an 18-9 advantage with 2:50 left in the opening period.
 
At that point Merriweather just took over as she fueled, by herself, an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to 18-17 entering the second quarter. That would be stopped by an old fashioned three-point play by Tatiyana Rock that made it 21-17 in the opening seconds.
 
The game of runs would continue as Foster nailed a three and triggered a 6-0 burst before the teams locked horns at 23-23 with 6:52 on the clock. Back-to-back buckets then gave Clayton State a four-point advantage but FC would have an answer as they mounted a 12-2 run, behind six points from Kierra Crane and four from Tabitha Odabe, to retake the lead at 35-27 at the 1:47 mark. From there they would take a 36-31 margin into the break.
 
That would change in short order at the start of the second half as the Lakers used six different scorers to put together an impressive 17-6 run that saw them go 8-of-10 from the floor and pull back ahead 48-42 with 2:56 left in the third. From there, however, the Saints would use a 9-1 rally to close to within 51-49 before a Towns triple made it 52-51 heading to the fourth.
 
Merriweather bookended that with a three of her own to start the final period and would help push to a 60-55 lead just under two minutes in. From there Crane spearheaded a 14-5 Flagler run with five points, once again flipping the lead, this time 69-65 with 2:09 to play.
 
Back-to-back jumpers by Wilson and redshirt-senior center Shaquoria Miles (Garysburg, N.C.) then tied it up with 35 seconds left before redshirt-senior guard Monica Alexander (Richmond, Va.) knocked down a pair of three throws for a 71-69 lead.
 
On the ensuing possession, Dayuna Johnson missed a jumper with under 20 seconds to go but Chris Wilson secured the rebound, went back up and was fouled on the make. Knotted at 71-71, Wilson missed the "and-1" and the Lakers were unable to convert at the other end, sending the clubs to overtime.
 
Newby drove to the hole in the opening seconds of OT, putting it home and then hitting the free throw following a foul for a 74-71 advantage. Flagler answered right back with a bucket by Wilson and a three from Johnson for a two-point lead but it would be short-lived as Newby had a response with a game-tying layup at the 3:20 mark.
 
After an empty possession by both teams, it would be all Clayton State. Over the final 2:17, Wilson would step up as she scored 10 points in a clinching 11-0 run that secured the 87-76 victory.
 
Crane led the Saints in scoring with 14 points along with five boards while Wilson (10 points, 12 boards) and Odabe (11 points, 10 boards) each notched a double-double. Robinson added 12 points, five caroms and three assists and Johnson chipped in with 11 points and three steals. Ivana Boyd had seven points, four boards and four steals and Rock finished with five points and four steals.
 
The Lakers will now have an extended break as they'll be off until Monday, November 17 when they host USC Aiken. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
With the win, Clayton State is now an impressive 10-2 all-time against Flagler.