MORROW, Ga. – In front of 400+ screaming elementary school kids, the Clayton State University women's basketball team won its 2022-23 home opener over Barry University, 70-67.
 
The two teams went back-and-forth in the first four minutes of the game, but the Lakers then started to pull away.  With the Buccaneers up 5-2, the Lakers scored nine of the next 11 points making the score, 11-7.  Taniya Patrick and Jadah Waite all made field goals during that stretch.  Barry then scored four the final five points of the quarter, but the Lakers clung to a 12-11 lead going into the second quarter.
 
Laylah Davis, Diamond Swift, and Audrey McElhaney combined to score six points to start the second quarter for the Lakers as they took a 18-13 lead.  With five minutes left and with Clayton State up, 21-20, Laylah Davis sparked 9-2 run, which extended the Lakers' lead to 29-23. 
 
The Lakers marked seven of the final points of the half and led, 36-25, going into the half.   Jada Francois Lubin converted an and-one on that run. 
 
Halftime: Clayton State 36, Barry 25
 
Barry opened the second half with a 7-0 run and made the score, 36-32.  Swift halted that run with a three-pointer.  With 2:36 left in the quarter, Davis led a 6-0 run which moved the score to 53-39.  The Buccaneers finished the quarter knocking in eight of final nine points and they closed the gap to seven at 54-47, going into the fourth quarter. 
 
The Buccaneers cut the Laker lead to two at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but a layup by McElhaney and a jumper by Patrick put the Laker advantage back to six at 58-52.  After a three by Barry cutting the Laker lead to one at 58-57, Swift and Patrick combined for six unanswered points and pushed the score, 64-57. 
 
The Lakers led by as much as six with 20 seconds left and held on to defeat Barry, 70-67.  The Buccaneers attempted a three as the final horn sounded, but it hit the back of the rim and into the hands of Patrick. 
 
GAME VITALS
Final: Clayton State 70, Barry 67
Records: Clayton State: 2-1 | Barry: 1-2
Location: The Loch | Clayton State University | Morrow, Ga.
 
QUICK HITS

• Davis led the Lakers with 21 points and went 11-for-12 from the charity strike.
• Swift and Patrick followed with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
• Swift, Patrick, and Francois Lubin all led the Lakers with six boards apiece
• The Lakers forced 27 Buccaneer turnovers.
• Clayton State scored 30 points off turnovers

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers travel to Dahlonega, Ga. to play in the North Georgia Classic on Friday, November 18^th through Saturday, November 19^th.  The Lakers play Carson Newman at 4 p.m. on Friday while playing Lincoln Memorial on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
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