MORROW, Ga. – Several impressive runs and an all-around performance by senior guard Taneria Wilson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) powered a 76-58 Clayton State (15-9, 11-5 PBC) victory over Francis Marion (11-11, 7-9 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game on Saturday, February 15.
 
Wilson led the Lakers with 21 points, seven steals, four boards and three assists while junior forward Jada Francois Lubin (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) had 17 points and a pair of blocks. Junior forward Timi'a Swanson (Americus, Ga.) added 15 points, redshirt-senior guard Christal Williams (Riverdale, Ga.) posted 10 points and redshirt-senior forward Jhade Hayes (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) finished with seven points and six caroms.
 
It would be a game of runs right away as Clayton State scored the first eight points before FMU answered right back with an 11-0 outburst behind four different scorers that left them with an 11-8 lead at the 4:28 mark.
 
Back-to-back layups and a free throw then flipped the script to a 13-11 Laker lead before Taylor Simmons drained a triple to put the Patriots back up by one with 36 seconds left in the frame. A jumper at the buzzer by Hayes then put Clayton State up 15-14 at the quarter break.
 
Following a bucket by Francis Marion to put them back up by one at the start of the second, the Lakers mounted a 15-5 run that saw Francois Lubin put up six points and Swanson four on their way to a 30-21 lead by the 4:46 mark. From there they would close the half with a 40-28 advantage.
 
It would get no better for the Patriots in the second half as Clayton State erupted for a 24-12 run for much of the third period with Wilson providing nine of those points. That stretch put the game out of reach at 64-40 with just under a minute left in the frame. The Lakers then held serve in the fourth quarter as they put the finishing touches on the 76-58 point victory.
 
Kiana Adderton delivered a strong all-around performance with 17 points, 10 boards, two blocks, two steals and a pair of assists while Zaria Woods just missed a double-double with nine points, nine caroms and four assists. Macy Passmore then rounded things out with nine points as she went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
 
The Lakers now hit the road for three straight games beginning with a trip to rival Columbus State on Wednesday, February 19. That contest, which could help decide Peach Belt Conference seeding between the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, is slated for 5:30 p.m. in Columbus, Georgia.