NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 66 – #19 Carson-Newman 73
Records: Lakers (4-1 0-0 PBC) – Eagles (4-1, 0-0 GSC)
All-Time Series: Tied at 5-5
 
MORROW, Ga. -- Playing in their first home game of the season, the Clayton State women's basketball team fell 73-66 to No. 19 Carson-Newman Tuesday evening.  

The loss is the first for the Lakers this season after opening their 2021-22 campaign with four wins. Clayton State is back in action on Friday with a matchup against Belmont Abbey before playing Johnson C. Smith on Saturday.
 
Carson-Newman came into the game averaging 92.5 points per game and had only not scored 90+ points once. No. 3 Lander held the Eagles to just 72 points.
 
The Lakers fell behind by nine points after the first quarter and were never able to fully recover as Carson-Newman won by seven.
 
Neither team could pull away early as the Eagles only led by one with under a minute left. But four consecutive turnovers by the Lakers and four quick baskets by Carson-Newman made the score 24-15 after the opening 10.
 
The Lakers opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to pull within two and would eventually tie the game at 26-26 with 5:35 to play. But the Eagles closed the first half with a 15-6 run to lead 41-32 at halftime.
 
Audrey McElhaney led all players with 19 points and added four rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Eagles started the second half strong and extended its lead to 11 points with 4:47 on the clock, but the Lakers answered with 8-0 run to pull within three.
 
The Eagles closed the quarter leading by eight with just one quarter left.
 
Carson-Newman controlled much of the fourth, leading by 15 with 2:36 left, but, refusing to back down, Clayton State ended the game with a 6-1 run before time ran out on them.
 
Raven Riley scored 12 points off the bench while Taniya Patrick had 11 points, four steals and three rebounds.
 
Timi'a Swanson just missed out on a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. She also had two steals and two assists.

Up Next:
- Clayton State is back on the road with a matchup at Belmont Abbey Friday at 5:00 p.m. The Lakers then play Johnson C. Smith on Saturday.

________________________________________________________________________________
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.