MORROW, Ga. – A dominant second quarter and 12 total three-pointers fueled a commanding 79-64 Clayton State (8-5, 4-1 PBC) victory over USC Aiken (8-6, 3-3 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, January 11.
 
Senior forward Kelsie Towns (Butler, Ga.) knocked in four three-pointers on her way to 22 points and seven boards while senior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) checked off all the boxes with 23 points, six assists, five caroms and three steals to pace the Lakers.
 
Redshirt-junior guard Praise Russell (Jacksonville, Fla.) hit on 5-of-7 long balls to power a career-high 15 points and junior forward Timi'a Swanson (Americus, Ga.) just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds. She would also add four steals and three assists to round out the top performances.
 
It would be a back-and-forth affair from the get go as the teams stayed within four points of each other, including four straight lead changes that saw Clayton State pull ahead 15-14 by the 3:18 mark. That lead would grow to four on a Towns three-pointer and eventually stretch to 24-19 by the end of the opening frame.
 
The second quarter would be where the Lakers would set themselves apart as they used a 14-2 run to begin the period and push to a 38-21 advantage by the 4:44 mark. The Pacers would then narrow it to 13 points on three occasions before five straight points from Towns, including a long three at the buzzer, made it 50-30 at the break.
 
A triple by Wilson in the opening seconds of the third stretched to a 23 point margin and eventually swelled to 24 points at 56-32 with 6:25 remaining. USCA would narrow the gap as they scored nine of the next 14 points to cut it to 61-48 before Clayton State added a free throw for a 14 point lead heading to the fourth.
 
That final frame would see the Pacers pull to within nine three times, the last at 66-57 with 6:13 on the clock. It would be as close as they would get, however, as the Lakers would put together a 13-7 run to run out that clock and reach the final margin of 79-64.
 
Kwajelin Farrar went 8-of-11 from the field and came away with 16 points and nine boards to lead USC Aiken while Alexis Mack matched her 16 points. Melyk Taouil finished with 10 points, five boards and four assists in 36 minutes and Alex Canady added 10 points and five rebounds.
 
The Lakers now become road warriors as they begin a three game trip at Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday, January 15. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. in Americus, Georgia.
 
FULL GAME VIDEO

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