NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 75 – USC Aiken 68
Records: Lakers (3-1, 3-1 PBC) – Pacers (0-3, 0-2 PBC)
Series History: Clayton State leads 27-14
 
MORROW, Ga. – Freshman Jadah Waite scored a team and career-high 16 points as the Clayton State women's basketball team won its second-straight Peach Belt Conference game after taking down USC Aiken 75-68 Saturday afternoon.  
 
In an almost identical score to Wednesday's win over Columbus State (75-67), The Lakers (3-1, 3-1 PBC) led for nearly the entirety of the game and opened a 21-point margin in the fourth quarter.
 
The Pacers (0-3, 0-2 PBC) wouldn't go away quietly and went on a 14-0 run in the final 2:27, ending the game with a made, half-court buzzer-beater.
 
Praise Russell scored a 3-pointer 15 seconds into the contest before a pair of Audrey McElhaney free throws and a Kerry Watson jumper put the Lakers ahead 7-0. Aiken then used a 10-2 run to take its first lead of the day, but Timi'a Swanson answered with a fast-break layup at 4:44 to put the Lakers ahead for good.
 
Waite then scored her first of four 3-pointers before Grace Kabundi scored her first points in a Laker jersey.
 
Both teams battelled as Clayton State led 21-15 after the first quarter. The second quarter was a low-scoring affair with the Lakers edging out Aiken 12-11, but Clayton State would lead 33-26 at the break.
 
The third quarter was all Clayton State as the Lakers would push its lead to 17 heading into the fourth.
 
With seven minutes left, Aiken would trail by 11, but the Lakers used a 15-5 run to lead by 21 with 2:27 left to play.

COMING UP:
- The Lakers return home to face Georgia Southwestern on January 20th.
- Clayton State then travels to Augusta University (Jan. 23) and Young Harris (Jan. 27).

TURNING POINT:
- Clayton State used a 15-5 run in the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 21.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Waite had a team-high 16 points.
- Kabundi added 12 points and eight rebounds while Swanson had 10 points, eight boards and three steals.
- McElhaney chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- Clayton State had 49 bench points to Aiken's 20.
- 36 of the Lakers' 75 points came in the paint.
 
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