MORROW, Ga. – A 36-13 run spanning the end of the third quarter and most of the fourth would be the deciding factor as Clayton State (9-8, 5-4 PBC) dropped an 87-66 decision to rival Columbus State (12-3, 7-2 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Wednesday, January 22.
 
Senior forward Kelsie Towns (Butler, Ga.) led the Lakers with 10 points, seven boards and a pair of blocks while junior forward Jada Francois Lubin (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) finished with nine points, five caroms and two blocks.
 
Senior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) added eight points and six rebounds and redshirt-senior guard Christal Williams (Riverdale, Ga.) and redshirt-junior guard Praise Russell (Jacksonville, Fla.) chipped in with nine and eight points, respectively.
 
It would be a fast paced, back-and-forth affair over the first 5:52 as the teams battled through two lead changes and a pair of ties before the Cougars ended up with a narrow 11-10 lead. At that point they would score five straight points for a six point advantage before holding a 17-15 margin with 2:29 left in the opening period.
 
From there the Lakers tied it with a bucket only to see it matched seconds later. Russell then knocked down a triple to send them to the second quarter up 20-19.
 
That would then ignite a series of six lead changes that saw Clayton State pull ahead 29-25 by the 5:51 mark. That lead would grow to 33-27 over the next two minutes but would not stay there as Columbus State closed the opening half with a dominant 13-2 run to take a 40-35 lead into the break.
 
Over the first 6:42 of the third quarter the Lakers would stay within four points, ending up at 48-44 with just over three minutes to go in the frame. At that point the Cougars put together an 11-0 run fueled by five points from LeeAysia Williamson to extend to a 57-44 advantage before closing the period with an 11 point lead.
 
After cutting the deficit to nine at the start of the fourth it would get no better for Clayton State as Columbus State erupted for a 27-9 run, fueled by nine points from Williamson, to take an 84-57 lead with 2:56 to play. The Lakers would then close the game with a 9-3 run to reach the final margin of 87-66.
 
Aujana Dawkins powered the Cougars with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds to go with 9-of-11 shooting and five assists. Williams led the offense with a game-high 26 points along with five assists and Kaihla Carter finished with 14 points, six steals and three assists. Chrisalyn Boston chipped in with six points and eight boards and Valeria Merlos had nine points.
 
The Lakers hit the road this weekend as they take on No. 14 North Georgia on Saturday, January 25. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. in Dahlonega, Georgia.

FULL GAME VIDEO

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