DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Clayton State (13-12, 10-9 PBC) battled Peach Belt Conference leader No. 21 North Georgia (22-3, 17-2 PBC) before dropping a 66-54 decision in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Wednesday, February 14.
 
Senior guard Aysia Grimsley (Marietta, Ga.) led the way with 18 points for the Lakers while junior center Aleisha Merriweather (Augusta, Ga.) finished with 10 points and three steals.
 
Senior forward Abreyln Rackley (St. Louis, Mo.) just missed a double-double with eight points and eight boards and junior guard TaKwana Bland (Williamston, N.C.) added six points and six caroms. Freshman guard Tatiana Foster (Atlanta, Ga.) rounded things out with three steals, three assists and five rebounds.
 
UNG would notch a lone free throw after the first 1:41 to score first but it would be Clayton State that would score best. Ignited by five straight points from Grimsley, they used an 11-0 run to take an 11-1 lead by the 3:29 mark.
 
The Nighthawks would respond by closing the frame with a 12-2 run of their own to get to within 13-11 entering the second. The Lakers eventually pushed out to a 21-16 advantage before a 5-0 burst cut it to one with 3:16 on the clock. From there, Clayton State would recover to take a 26-23 margin into the break.
 
Another five straight points from North Georgia gave them back the lead, 28-26, after the first 2:40 of the third quarter before the teams deadlocked three times, the last at 32-32 with 2:31 on the clock. The Nighthawks then knocked down five free throws to retake the lead and would hold a four point advantage, 39-35, heading to the fourth.
 
That period would be one that was far different for UNG as they found their offensive rhythm and used a 13-6 run to take a 52-41 lead with 6:14 remaining. Over the next two-plus minutes the Lakers would claw back to within 52-47 but would not get any closer than six points the rest of the way, despite several rallies. North Georgia would then close out the 66-54 victory.
 
Amber Skidgel led the Nighthawks with 16 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the foul line while Deana Blankinship finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards to go with five assists. Vanessa Agrusa chipped in with 11 points and six caroms and Julianne Sutton and Julie McKie had 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
The Lakers return to The Loch for Homecoming against UNC Pembroke on Saturday, February 17. Tip-off is set for a special time of 3 p.m.
 
NOTES
With the opening of North Georgia's new Convocation Center on the horizon, this evening's contest was Clayton State's last game in historic Memorial Hall … since their first game in the building on February 15, 1992 the Lakers are 9-10.