MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State (11-6, 7-4 PBC) outlasted UNC Pembroke (6-11, 5-6 PBC) in a battle for Peach Belt Conference positioning to earn a 58-52 victory in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, January 26.
 
Junior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) led the way for the Lakers with 14 points, seven boards and three steals while senior forward Velencia Johnson (Hoover, Ala.) finished with a team-high 15 points to go with a pair of steals.
 
They were joined by sophomore guard Tatiana Foster (Atlanta, Ga.) with four points, six caroms, five assists and two steals and senior guard TaKwana Bland (Williamston, N.C.) with six points and six boards. Junior center Brittany Williams (Albany, Ga.) rounded things out with seven points.
 
Following a couple of early exchanges that left UNCP with a 3-2 advantage just over two minutes into the game Clayton State used back-to-back three-pointers from Bland to fuel a 12-2 run that left them with a 14-5 lead by the 3:39 mark. From there it would be all Braves for the rest of the frame as Melanie Horne put up eight points, including a pair of triples, to make it 16-15 after one.
 
The lead would grow to 20-15 before narrowing to 22-20 Lakers with 5:34 on the clock. At that point neither team could score as they both suffered through a drought of 2:56, one that eventually would be broken by a 5-0 burst by Clayton State that made it 27-20 by the 2:05 mark. UNCP would then make it 29-27 by the break.
 
The third quarter would see the Lakers right the ship as they opened with another 12-2 run to extend to a 41-29 margin by the 4:27 mark. Despite another low scoring stretch they would push that margin to 13 before closing the period with a 44-33 score.
 
After a quick three points by UNCP to start the fourth, Clayton State would get it back into double-digits and eventually hold a 50-38 advantage with 6:53 to play. That's when the Braves roared back to life as they put together an 11-4 run to close all the way to 54-49 by the 1:39 mark. That would be where their comeback attempt would stall, however, as the Lakers salted away the 58-52 victory down the stretch.
 
Horne led the way for UNC Pembroke with game-highs of 22 points and 10 boards along with three steals and a pair of blocks. Aliyah Farmer added five points and five caroms and Tee Graham had four of each.
 
The Lakers continue a mini two game homestand as they host Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday, January 30. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at The Loch.
 

UNC Pembroke vs. Clayton State (1/26/19)