MORROW, Ga. – A furious fourth quarter comeback came up just short as Clayton State (4-4, 1-2 PBC) dropped an 88-83 decision to Lander (6-4, 3-1 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Wednesday, December 19.
 
Senior guard TaKwana Bland (Williamston, N.C.) delivered career-highs of 21 points and four blocks to go with three assists, a pair of steals and four boards to pace the Lakers. She was joined by junior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals and redshirt-senior guard Monica Alexander (Richmond, Va.) added seven points and four assists.
 
In what would quickly turn into and up and down affair, Clayton State managed an 11-8 lead by the 6:11 mark before LU put together an impressive 20-8 run. That stretch would span 8:51 and take the Bearcats from down three to up 28-19 with 7:20 left in the second quarter. From there the Lakers would mount a 13-5 run to close the half trailing just 33-32 at the break.
 
Following a Lander free throw to start the third period, Clayton State would score eight of the next 13 points to take a 40-39 lead by the 7:23 mark. That would incite a series of four consecutive lead changes, the last of which would be the beginning of a 7-2 run that put the Bearcats up 48-44 with 3:03 on the clock.
 
An old fashioned three-point play by Alexander and a jumper by senior forward Velencia Johnson (Hoover, Ala.) then flipped the script and put the Lakers up 49-48. Things would then turn dramatically in favor of Lander as they put together a 31-14 run over the next 7:30 to retake the lead at 79-62 with 4:26 remaining.
 
Undaunted, Clayton State rallied to within 10 on a pair of occasions, the last at 83-73 by the 2:09 mark. Over the next 1:53 they would use balanced scoring to mount a 10-2 run that pulled them all the way to within 85-83.
 
That stretch would include a pair of clutch triples from Wilson and Bland but would not be enough as Lander hit 1-of-2 at the foul on the ensuing foul and staved off a tying three-point attempt at the other end with nine seconds left. From there they closed out the 88-83 victory with a pair of free throws.
 
Mylea McKenith lit it up for 28 points on 11-of-24 shooting and added five boards while Jessica Harris finished with 26 points, a game-high five assists and five rebounds. Sarah Crews finished with seven points, 11 boards and four assists and Tabitha Dailey had 15 points and six caroms. Symone Starks rounded things out with nine points, three steals and a pair of assists.
 
The Lakers use up the very last bit of 2018 as they host Lincoln Memorial on Monday, December 31. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at The Loch.
 

Lander vs. Clayton State (12/19/18)