DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A fourth quarter rally came up just short as Clayton State (4-3, 0-0 PBC) was upset 61-60 by NAIA member Life College (6-1, 0-0 MSC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, November 23 as part of the North Georgia Classic.
 
Senior forward Kelsie Towns (Butler, Ga.) ripped down a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds to go with three assists while junior forward Timi'a Swanson (Americus, Ga.) added 14 points and five steals.
 
Senior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) had seven points, five assists and four rebounds and redshirt-senior guard Christal Williams (Riverdale, Ga.) added seven points, four caroms and two steals. Senior center Brittany Williams (Albany, Ga.) rounded things out with eight points.
 
Coming off one of the bigger wins in the last several years with a double-digit victory over No. 20 Carson-Newman the day before, Clayton State would take the early 7-2 advantage against the Running Eagles but it would not last. After the initial shock of that start, Life responded with a 15-4 run to close the opening frame with a 17-11 lead as six different players would fuel that stretch.
 
That would extend to an overall run of 17-4 with a bucket by Maeisha Teasley to open the second quarter before LC would push to a 23-14 margin with just over three minutes gone by. A 6-0 burst then cut it down to 23-20 but no closer.
 
The Running Eagles would put together a 9-3 run behind another balanced attack to make it 32-23 with a minute and a half left in the second quarter. Clayton State would benefit from a Swanson three as they closed the half with four straight points to narrow the gap to 32-27 at the break.
 
That margin would not change much over the next 10 minutes as Life expanded their lead by two. Four separate times the Lakers would claw to within three points, the last at 42-39 with 42 seconds on the clock before finding themselves down 46-39 entering the fourth.
 
It would get no better at the start of that period as LC opened with a 7-4 stretch to extend their lead to 53-43 by the 7:26 mark. Trailing 57-49 with 5:14 left, Clayton State would find new life as they outscored Life 10-2 in a span of 3:20 to finally pull even at 59-59 with 1:23 remaining.
 
A layup by Tierra Lindsay with just under a minute on the clock then gave the Running Eagles back the lead before the Lakers got three shots off on their next possession but could not convert. A foul by LC following another offensive rebound then put Towns at the line.
 
She would split them to leave it at a one point margin and, following a foul to put Life on the line, would be gifted not one but two misses only to see a foul with five seconds wipe away their last chance to avoid the 61-60 upset.
 
Lindsay led the Running Eagles with 14 points and seven boards and Sydni Tears finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Teasley was the only other double-figure scorer with 11 on 5-of-7 shooting and Jamee Ward chipped in with eight points, four caroms and three assists. Cheyenne Daphney closed things out with six points and seven rebounds.
 
The Lakers will now go on an extended hiatus as they do not play again until their home opener on Saturday, December 14. They will host fellow Peach Belt Conference member Lander in a rare non-conference game due to a new format that has them meeting in league action just once. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
The meeting was the first between the programs.