NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 62 – Young Harris 70
Records: Lakers (6-3, 0-1 PBC) – Mountain Lions (8-3, 1-2 PBC)
All-Time Series: Clayton State leads 17-2

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.  – Playing with just five players, the Clayton State women's basketball team fell 70-62 in overtime to Young Harris Wednesday night in the Lakers' opening Peach Belt Conference game of the season. 

Both teams were short-handed as Clayton State had five players available due to COVID protocols. Young Harris had eight players make an appearance in the game. 

Audrey McElhaney turned in a career-high 33 points and added 14 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Her 33 points tie a season-high in the PBC this season. She was also just four points away from matching the program record for points in a game, which is held by Taneria Wilson. 

The game was a back-and-forth affair as the lead changed 13 times. 

Clayton State scored the game's first basket 27 seconds in before Young Harris quickly tied the score. Both teams traded the lead, but the Mountain Lions led 14-11 after the first quarter. 

The second was much of the same as neither team could pull away. Young Harris did lead by eight with just under two minutes in the half, but the Lakers cut the lead to four just before halftime. 

Jessica Maye added 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss. 

Clayton State outshot YHC in the third and trailed by just two going into the final frame. The fourth was low scoring and involved a McElhaney layup in the final seconds to send the game into overtime. 

The Lakers took the lead with 3:42 left in the game, but YHC quickly grabbed it right back. Leading 57-55 with 13 seconds left, YHC missed its second attempt on a free throw which gave Clayton State one final chance to tie the game. With three seconds left, McElhaney scored off a layup to tie the game.  

After taking a 60-59 lead 32 seconds into the game, Clayton State wouldn't score until four seconds left as Young Harris used an 11-0 run to seal the game. 

Devyne Turner added eight points and five rebounds while Jamirah Mitchell scored five with four rebounds and four assists. Diamond Swift contributed seven rebounds and six assists. 
 
Up Next:
- Clayton State ris back in action on Saturday with a road matchup at Columbus State.
- The Lakers are then back in the Loch on Wednesday, Jan. 12 for their home, conference-opener.  
 
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