WISE, Va. – The Clayton State University women's basketball team officially opened its 2022-23 season at the Region Challenge on the campus of UVA Wise. The Lakers played the Trojans of Anderson University late Friday afternoon and won, 70-49.
The Lakers got off to a good start in the first quarter. A three-pointer by Laylah Davis kicked off the scoring for Clayton State as they took an early 3-2 lead. At the score, 4-3, Anderson,
Jada Moss sparked a 9-0 run, and the Lakers took a 12-4 lead. Davis knocked down another three during that stretch. With two minutes left in the quarter, the Lakers saw baskets by Moss, Jordan Jones, and
Devyne Turner and they led Anderson, 23-12, at the end of the first quarter.
Audrey McElhaney, Jones, and Davis combined for the first 10 Laker points in the beginning of the second quarter and Clayton State pulled ahead 33-14. Davis and Jones both drained three-balls. With the score at 35-14, the Trojans closed the gap on the Lakers and went on a 10-0 run and made the score 35-24.
The Lakers did not score a field goal in the final six minutes of the quarter, but they held on to a 36-24 lead going into the half. Davis led the Lakers with 12 points and went 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Davis and Moss both grabbed a team-leading three boards.
Halftime: Clayton State 36, Anderson 24
Both teams came out of the gate in the third quarter slow as the first field goal was scored at the 6:20 mark as
Taniya Patrick made a jumper. The Lakers led 46-26. Davis, Patrick, and McElhaney all made free throws in the early going in the quarter. Neither team really shot the ball well in the third quarter as the Lakers and Trojans did not make a field goal in the final two minutes of the quarter. The Lakers took a 54-34 lead going into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, neither side was unable to make a field goal until Patrick made a layup with 4:30 left in the quarter. Patrick and
Jadah Waite then continued to lead the Lakers as they both marked field goals with under four minutes left. Clayton State led 64-43.
Patrick and I'uana Slaughter both made buckets down the stretch as the Lakers opened their season on a high note winning, 70-49. The Lakers shot 80% (25-for-31) from the charity strike in the game.
GAME VITALS
Final: Clayton State 70, Anderson 49
Records: Clayton State: 1-0 | Anderson: 0-1
Location: Prior Center | UVA Wise | Wise, Va. | Region Challenge
QUICK HITS
- Davis led all Laker scorers with 16 points and added eight boards
- Patrick led the team with nine boards and added 13 points.
- Moss rounded out the Lakers in double-digit scoring with 10 points.
- Davis led the team with four three-balls.
- The Lakers forced 21 Trojan turnovers and scored 16 points off of those turnovers.
- Clayton State outscored the Trojans, 32-11, with points off the bench.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers conclude play at the Region Challenge as they play the host the Cavaliers of UVA Wise on Saturday, November 12
th at 3 p.m.
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