FLORENCE, S.C. – A back-and-forth second half would see Clayton State (14-7, 10-5 PBC) put together several mini runs late as they fought off Francis Marion (8-11, 5-10 PBC) to earn an 80-72 victory in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, February 9.
 
Redshirt-junior guard Madison Newby (Lawrenceville, Ga.) tied her career-high with 20 points and bested her personal best with six steals to go with three assists to pace the Lakers. She was joined by senior forward Velencia Johnson (Hoover, Ala.) with 10 points and eight boards while sophomore guard Tatiana Foster (Atlanta, Ga.) finished with 10 points, five caroms and five steals.
 
Redshirt-senior center Shaquoria Miles (Garysburg, N.C.) and junior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) each added 10 points and redshirt-senior guard Monica Alexander (Richmond, Va.) chipped in with nine points to round out the top performers.
 
Clayton State jumped out to an early 11-2 lead over the first five minutes before FMU cut it to a four point margin, 13-9, over the next the three minutes. From there the clubs would close the frame with the score at 19-14.
 
An Abigail Bullock triple to start the second cut it to two, and following a push back to six points, would be 25-23 by the 7:17 mark. A 7-2 burst by the Lakers then put them ahead 32-25 before six straight points by the Patriots cut it to one with 2:40 left in the half. Holding at that same margin, 34-33, with under two minutes on the clock, Clayton State closed with four straight points to take it to 38-33 at the break.
 
A 10-4 run out of the gate to begin the second half then flipped the script and gave Francis Marion a 43-42 advantage by the 7:06 mark. A mini 5-0 run then gave the Lakers back the lead before being deadlocked at 48-48 at the 5:37 mark.
 
Following another Clayton State lead and two more ties minutes later, the last at 54-54 with 2:10 left in the third, the Lakers would answer the bell again with a 13-5 run that gave them a 66-59 lead two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter.
 
The Patriots would close to within two, 69-67, with four and a half to play but five straight points from Newby then put some distance between them with a seven point spread with just under three minutes left. That would be enough as the lead would not dip back below five as Clayton State closed out the 80-72 victory.
 
Shaunice Fulmore led all scorers with 22 points for FMU while Kiana Adderton had 19 points, four boards and a pair of steals. Briana Burgins finished with 14 points and seven rebounds and Bullock contributed 11 points.
 
The Lakers continue a two-game road trip when they travel to Georgia College on Wednesday, February 13. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Milledgeville, Georgia.