MORROW, Ga. – Another career game by redshirt-senior guard Christal Williams (Riverdale, Ga.) powered a second half surge as Clayton State (14-9, 10-5 PBC) came from behind for a 76-66 victory over Georgia Southwestern (6-15, 2-13 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Wednesday, February 12.
 
Williams led all scorers with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals in 27 minutes while senior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) finished with 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals.
 
Senior forward Kelsie Towns (Butler, Ga.) came away with 10 points and six caroms and junior forward Jada Francois Lubin (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) had seven points, four steals and a pair of blocks. Junior forward Timi'a Swanson (Americus, Ga.) rounded things out with eight points.
 
The Hurricanes would come out at full gust as they pushed out to a 19-6 lead by the 3:15 mark of the first quarter as Lex Chatman dropped nine points and Tamecia Blue had four. It would not last, however, as Clayton State would answer with a devastating 17-2 run of their own as Wilson scored eight points and redshirt-junior guard Praise Russell (Jacksonville, Fla.) six.
 
That five minute burst flipped the script and put them ahead 23-21 just under three minutes into the second period. From there the teams would be separated by no more than four points the rest of the half and deadlocked twice before the Lakers took a narrow 33-32 lead into the break.
 
It would be the Christal Williams' show over the first 2:21 as she lit it up for nine points on a three, a steal and layup and a pair of jumpers to extend to a 46-36 advantage. GSW would cut it to a five point margin twice, the last at 48-43, before Clayton State closed the period with a 60-52 lead.
 
A steal and layup by Francois Lubin followed by a triple by Towns then blew the lead back up to double-digits at 65-52 with 7:40 remaining before Georgia Southwestern got back within six at 70-64 with a 12-5 burst. That would be as close they would get, however, as Christal Williams knocked down a three and later a free throw to put the game out of reach at 74-64. From they would go on to close out the 76-66 victory minutes later.
 
Chatman led the Hurricanes with 17 points, five boards, four steals and a pair of assists while Blue had a solid all-around game of six points, seven assists, three steals and five caroms. Mariya Trimble just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds and Jamesha Samuel chipped in with 10 points. Kayla Smith rounded things out with seven points and four caroms.
 
The Lakers take the court for Homecoming when they host Francis Marion on Saturday, February 15. Tip-off is set for a special time of 3 p.m. at The Loch.