NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 62 – Georgia Southwestern 54
Records: Lakers (15-12, 8-9 PBC) – Hurricanes (22-6, 14-4 PBC)
All-Time Series: Clayton State Leads 33-16
 
AMERICUS, Ga. – The #6 seed Clayton State women's basketball team knocked off #3 seed Georgia Southwestern 62-54 in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Wednesday night.

With the win, the Lakers advance to their 16th PBC semifinal and their sixth under head coach Kaleena Coleman '06. Clayton State will take on #2 seed Lander University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Dahlonega, Ga. Lander is also the No. 6 team in the country. 

University of North Georgia will host the semifinal and final round of the women's conference tournament as the Nighthawks entered the tournament as the top seed.  

The Bearcats raced past Flagler 107-77 and will look to advanced to their sixth PBC title game since 2016.

The first quarter was close as neither team led by more than six points in the opening 10 minutes. The Lakers took an 11-5 lead before the Hurricanes stormed back with a 10-4 run to the close the quarter.

Both teams traded baskets to start the second as GSW took a 24-22 lead with 5:35 remaining. Clayton State then used an 11-2 run to close the first half and take a 33-26 lead into halftime.

Timi'a Swanson had a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double against the Hurricanes this season. For her career, she has three 20+ point games against her hometown team.

Ga. Southwestern answered back in the third quarter, erasing an early 10-point deficit as they tied the game 38-38 with less than five minutes left in the period.

The Hurricanes then briefly took a 44-40 lead, but the Lakers responded with six unanswered points to lead by two with just the fourth to play.

Jadah Waite added 14 points while Audrey McElhaney contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.

The fourth was a battle as both teams kept it close until the final three minutes.

Diamond Swift scored her first basket of the game at the 1:51 mark to make it a 57-53 score in favor of the Lakers. On the ensuing GSW possession, Swanson would get a steal, get fouled before a Hurricane technical foul sent Swanson to the line for four shots.

The senior would sink two shots to extend the lead to six points. The Lakers would get the ball back as McElhaney was sent to the line after another foul. She made it a seven-point game before GSW hit 1-of-2 free throws on its next possession.

The Lakers would hold on and hit two more free throws to close the game.

Clayton State held a 28-8 points off turnovers advantage.
 
Up Next:
- Clayton State will face off against Lander Saturday in the semifinal round of the PBC tournament. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
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