MORROW, Ga. – A 20-4 second half run was too much to overcome as Clayton State (17-8, 13-6 PBC) dropped a 69-57 decision to No. 24 North Georgia (21-4, 16-3 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on February 20.
 
Junior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) delivered a solid all-around game with 16 points, four steals, three assists and five boards while redshirt-junior guard Madison Newby (Lawrenceville, Ga.) finished with 13 points, four caroms, two assists and a pair of steals. Senior center Aleisha Merriweather (Augusta, Ga.) rounded out the top performers with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
 
The Nighthawks would quickly show why they are ranked among the 25 best teams in the country as they scored the first seven points on their way to a 12-3 mark by the 5:19 mark of the first quarter. Clayton State would put together 8-2 stretch to cut it to 14-11 two minutes later. UNG would then close the period with a 23-19 advantage.
 
Back-to-back buckets by Wilson, the latter off of a steal, then tied it up at the start of the second and the margin would stay within five for most of the period. That would change right before the break as North Georgia scored six of the final eight points to take a 37-30 lead to the half.
 
The Lakers would find their offense at the start of the third, however, as they used a 13-4 run to flip the script and take a 43-41 lead by the 5:02 mark of the period. That would be the extent of their success though as the Nighthawks exploded for a 20-4 run that would span the quarter break and put them up 61-47 with 3:47 to play. From there they would close out the 69-57 victory.
 
Julianne Sutton led five UNG players in double-figures with 15 points while Vanessa Agrusa delivered a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards along with three assists. Tamera Thorpe had 11 points and seven caroms and Abbie Franklin finished with 10 points.
 
The Lakers hit the road on Saturday, February 23 as they travel to rival UNC Pembroke. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. in Pembroke, North Carolina.
 

North Georgia vs. Clayton State (2/20/19)