DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Clayton State (9-9, 5-5 PBC) led No. 14/14 North Georgia (16-2, 9-1 PBC) for most of the way before succumbing to a late fourth quarter rally in a 68-60 loss in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, January 25.
 
Junior forward Timi'a Swanson (Americus, Ga.) led the Lakers with 16 points to go with five boards and a pair of steals in 25 minutes while senior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) finished with 14 points, five caroms, two steals and two assists. Senior forward Kelsie Towns (Butler, Ga.) and redshirt-junior forward Dejah Montgomery (Cordova, Tenn.) each added nine points to round out the top performers.
 
In a game featuring one of the top teams in the country it was difficult to tell which club that was over the first 4:04 as Clayton State surged out to a 14-4 lead behind seven points from Wilson. Holding an 18-10 margin at the 3:25 mark, they would see that lead nearly evaporate as the Nighthawks scored seven straight to pull to within 18-17 just over two minutes later before closing out the quarter with that score.
 
Both teams would go scoreless over the first two minutes of the second period before Abbie Franklin knocked down a triple for UNG's first lead of the day at 20-18. It wouldn't last long as a three-point play by Wilson sparked a 7-0 burst that put Clayton State back up 25-20 with 5:39 on the clock.
 
From there the Nighthawks returned serve with a 5-0 mini run to deadlock at 25-25 but could not get over the hump. Over the final 4:11 of the half the Lakers would get points from five different scorers to fuel a 9-3 run that would propel them to a 33-28 lead at the break.
 
That would change drastically over the first 3:46 of the second half as Franklin drilled a pair of threes as part of a 10-2 run that took North Georgia from down five to up 38-36. The Lakers converted a pair of free throws to quell that run only to see them retake the lead on a jumper by Kyra Davis.
 
Back-to-back long balls from Montgomery and redshirt-senior Christal Williams (Riverdale, Ga.) then ignited a 12-2 run over the next 2:51 that put Clayton State up 50-42 by the 1:45 mark. At that point it would turn into a full on game of runs with the Nighthawks scoring the final eight points of the frame to knot things up at 50-50 heading to the fourth quarter.
 
UNG would open that period with consecutive layups for a four point lead before a personal 7-0 run by Swanson flipped the script and put the Lakers back ahead 57-56 by the 5:32 mark. The lead would then change hands twice over the next minute-plus, putting Clayton State back ahead 59-58. It would be a deciding 8-3 burst with five points from Julianne Sutton, however, that would finally close the door on the 68-60 final.
 
Those would be five of Sutton's game-high 25 points to go with her 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals that paced North Georgia while Franklin finished with 17 points behind the force of three triples. Macey Gregg added nine points, three assists and as many boards and Faith Arthur chipped in with seven points and five caroms.
 
The Lakers will be back in action on Wednesday, January 29 when they return home to take on Flagler on Drury Inn & Suites Night. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
North Georgia is now 27-1 at the UNG Convocation Center since it opened in late February of 2018.