AUGUSTA, Ga. – Clayton State (6-4, 2-2 PBC) used a suffocating 24-4 run in the first quarter and never looked back as they raced past Augusta (1-9, 0-4 PBC) by a 73-51 score in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, January 5.
 
Redshirt-junior guard Madison Newby (Lawrenceville, Ga.) led the charge with 16 points and four rebounds while senior center Aleisha Merriweather (Augusta, Ga.) finished with a double-double of 14 points and a career-high tying 12 boards.
 
Junior forward Kelsie Towns (Butler, Ga.) added eight points and tied her career-best with five caroms and senior forward Velencia Johnson (Hoover, Ala.) chipped in with five points and seven boards. Senior guard TaKwana Bland (Williamston, N.C.) rounded things out with seven points, three rebounds and a pair of assists.
 
Having played less than a week ago despite the holiday break, Clayton State came out sharp, taking an 8-2 lead over the first three minutes of action. After a scoreless stretch of more than two minutes, that run would extend to 13-2 by the 2:57 mark of the first quarter. The Jaguars would finally get back on the board with a Jaelyn Autman jumper only to see the Lakers close the frame with 11 straight points for a commanding 24-4 lead.
 
Things would get better for Augusta at the start of the second as they outscored Clayton State 8-7 over the first 4:34 to pull to within 31-12. That stretch would be squelched in short order, however, as a 7-0 run was capped by a triple from sophomore guard Dalania Clardy (Riverdale, Ga.) to push the lead back above 20 points at 38-12 with 3:43 to play. From there they would go on to close the half with a 41-19 lead.
 
Over the first 4:20 of the third period the Jaguars would find their offense as they scored nine of the first 14 points to cut the deficit to 46-28. During that stretch Cameryn Wilson would put up five points while Brianna Middleton notched the other four.
 
Eight straight points from Newby would then put a stop to that run, as well as any thoughts of getting it back under the 20 point threshold. That burst keyed a 10 run that pushed the margin to 28 points, 56-28, with under two minutes left in the third. A pair of Middleton free throws and a bucket by Asia Harrison at the buzzer made it 56-32 entering the fourth.
 
That final quarter would see Clayton State maintain at least a 20-point lead straight on through despite Augusta outscoring them 19-17 over the final 10 minutes. It would be too little, too late as the Lakers closed out the impressive 73-51 victory.
 
Harrison led the Jaguars with 11 points, four steals and a pair of boards while Autman had seven points and eight boards. Middleton followed with eight points and seven caroms and Wilson chipped in with nine points and five steals to round out the top performers.
 
The Lakers are back in action on Wednesday, January 9 when they travel to Young Harris. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Young Harris, Georgia.
 
NOTES
Merriweather equaled her career-high for rebounds with her 12 … that mark ties her performance earlier this season against Tusculum on November 15 … Towns equaled her rebound mark of five set against Lander on December 19, 2018.