MORROW, Ga. – A near double-double and clutch plays by junior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) fueled Clayton State's (9-4, 5-2 PBC) impressive 70-56 victory over Georgia College (5-9, 3-5 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Wednesday, January 16.
 
Wilson finished with 19 points, a game-high nine boards, two assists and a pair of steals to lead the Lakers while redshirt-junior guard Madison Newby (Lawrenceville, Ga.) notched 14 points, three assists and four rebounds.
 
They were joined by redshirt-senior guard Monica Alexander (Richmond, Va.) who dished out four assists, grabbed four boards and drained three triples on her way to nine points. Redshirt-senior center Shaquoria Miles (Garysburg, N.C.) added seven points and six caroms and senior guard TaKwana Bland (Williamston, N.C.) and junior forward Kelsie Towns (Butler, Ga.) chipped in with eight points and six rebounds, respectively.
 
Clayton State would come out on fire from beyond the arc as they nailed five of eight three point attempts in the opening quarter, eventually taking a lead of 17-10 before closing the frame with a 22-14 advantage.
 
After a bucket by Miles made it a 10 point margin in the opening minute of the second period, GC responded with a 7-0 burst to cut it to 24-21 with 5:57 on the clock. That would be as close as they would get, however, as the Lakers closed with an 8-2 run to take a 32-23 lead into the break.
 
The Bobcats came out of the locker room better than they went in as they used a pair of triples to cut the deficit to 37-31 by the 4:53 mark and 40-35 with 2:36 left in the quarter. From there, however, Clayton State would mount a 14-5 run that spanned the break and left them with a 54-40 advantage at the 9:12.
 
After seeing the that rally capped with a three by Wilson, GC's Sydney Cleveland knocked down a pair of triples of her own to slice it to 54-46 just 29 seconds later. An open court steal and fastbreak layup from Wilson then pushed it back to a double-digit lead and keyed a 59-47 lead with 6:31 on the clock.
 
The Bobcats would battle back to within seven points, 63-56, four and a half minutes later but a three by Wilson off an inbound extended back to a 10 point lead and would spell the end for any thoughts of a comeback. From there the Lakers closed out the 70-56 victory.
 
Cleveland led all scorers with 20 points and added eight rebounds to lead Georgia College while Shay Tarver had 14 points and four assists. Jasmine McSwain finished with seven points and six boards to round out the top performers.
 
The Lakers hit the road when they return to action on Saturday, January 19 when they travel to USC Aiken. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. in Aiken, South Carolina.
 

Georgia College vs. Clayton State (1/16/19)