MORROW, Ga. – For the fifth straight year, throughout the summer, the Clayton State Sports Information Office is counting down the Top-10 stories of the year following an impressive 2018-19 campaign.
 
Today, we release the No. 6 story of the season – Women's Basketball Returns to NCAA Tournament for 13^th Time in 15 Years. Make sure to check www.ClaytonStateSports.com every Friday to catch the latest release.
 
Story No. 6: Women's Basketball Returns to NCAA Tournament for 13^th Time in 15 Years
Clayton State women's basketball has made it their business to be one of the best teams in Division II and the Southeast Region over the past 15 years as the team returned to the NCAA Tournament for the 13^th time during that span in 2018-19.
 
They would finish the year with an overall record of 21-10 and 16-6 in the Peach Belt Conference to go along with some impressive victories and individual performances.
 
That campaign would kick off with a pair of nail-biting games at The Loch against two of the best teams in the region in Anderson (11/9) and No. 21 Wingate (11/10) on consecutive days. Against the Trojans, who would go on to be the top team in the region and lose only three games all year, the Lakers pulled out a thrilling last second 67-66 victory. Check out the full game video and the game winning play.
 
Facing a Wingate team that has been a perennial NCAA Tournament qualifier, including three times against the Orange and Blue, Clayton State battled down the stretch to come away with a 56-54 victory against a ranked opponent.
 
Those wins, as well as a 17-4 stretch from December 31, 2018 through March 6, 2019, would be fueled in part by newcomers Madison Newby (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.). Both players would earn All-PBC Third-Team honors, continuing a stretch of 15 straight seasons with at least one selection. They also helped the club to win streaks of four, five and six games.
 
While Newby finished with 20 or more points five times, including a career-best 27 in a 59-44 PBC Quarterfinal victory over USC Aiken (3/6), Wilson dropped a career-high 26 points in 23 minutes at No. 3 Carson-Newman. It was one of three games of 20 or more points, including 23 points in an overtime victory at Flagler in which she scored 10 of those in the extra session.
 
Following a regular season that would see them advance to the PBC Semifinals, the Lakers returned to the NCAA Tournament for the 13^th time since 2004-05. As in years past, it would be a familiar foe as they would take on Wingate for the fourth time in the postseason.
 
Despite battling back to take a lead late, the Bulldogs would rally for a 76-66 victory that, while disappointing in the moment, could not put a damper on what was another tremendous season for Clayton State women's basketball.  
 
The Schedule
Every Friday throughout the Summer and leading up to the 2019-20 preseason, the SID Office will release the list one at a time beginning with the No. 10 story on June 7. The No. 1 story in Clayton State Athletics, as chosen by the Sports Information Office, will be released on Friday, August 9.
 
Countdown to the Top-10 Clayton State Athletics Stories from 2018-19
No. 1 – Coming August 9
No. 2 – Coming August 2
No. 3 – Coming July 26
No. 4 – Coming July 19
No. 5 – Coming July 12
No. 6 – Women's Basketball Returns to NCAA Tournament for 13^th Time in 15 Years (July 5)
No. 7 – Men's Track & Field Delivers Multiple Individual League Championships (June 28)
No. 8 – Undefeated Start Leads Women's Soccer Back to PBC Tournament (June 21)
No. 9 – Men's Basketball Garners Record-Setting Honors (June 14)
No. 10 – Men's Soccer's Late Run and Individual Accomplishments (June 7)
Honorable Mention (May 31)