MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University women's basketball team could not hold off a late resurgence by the Lander University Bearcats as they fell, 67-63, at the Loch on Saturday afternoon.  Jordan Jones led all Laker scorers with 17 points. 
 
Both teams kept the game close to begin the first quarter.  Lander took an early 8-7 lead.  Jessica Maye, Audrey McElhaney, and Jordan Jones all marked field goals for the Lakers.  Lander then went on a 9-0 run and made the score, 15-7.  The Lakers responded by scoring the next six points but still trailed by two at 15-13.  The Bearcats ended the quarter marking nine of the final 12 points and took a 24-16 lead going into the second. 
 
The Lakers got off to a hot start to begin the second quarter as they forced turnovers on the first four Lander possessions.  Jada Francois Lubin and McElhaney both marked field goals for the Lakers and they cut the Bearcat lead to 24-20.  After a Lander three, the Lakers went on a 12-1 run and eventually took a 32-30 lead.  Hannah Wright and Jadah Waite both buried threes during that run. 
 
The Lakers saw eight points from McElhaney and seven points from Jones as they took a 34-31 lead going into the half. 
 
Halftime: Clayton State 34, Lander 31  
 
The Lakers got off to a sluggish start to the second half as they did not score until Wright hit a jumper with 5:36 left.  The Lakers and Bearcats found themselves deadlocked at 36.  Later in the third and with Clayton State down 39-38, Lander extended their lead and tallied eight of the next 10 points and took a 47-40 lead.  Francois Lubin and Jada Moss buried free throws in the final minutes of the quarter but the Lakers trailed, 47-43 going into the final quarter. 
 
McElhaney gave the Lakers the push they needed at the beginning of the fourth quarter as she scored the first six points.  Clayton State and Lander were tied at 49.  Maye and Jones then combined to hit the next three Laker field goals as they took a 55-49 lead.  With 4:30 left, Lander started to close the gap on the Lakers and went on a 12-0 run.  The Bearcats jumped out to a 62-47 lead. 
 
The Lakers made a hard push at the end but came up short falling, 67-63. 
 
GAME VITALS
Final: Lander 67, Clayton State 63
Records: Lander: 4-10 (1-4 PBC) | Clayton State; 7-7 (2-3 PBC)
Location: The Loch | Clayton State University | Morrow, Ga.
 
QUICK HITS

• Jones led the Lakers with 17 points while McElhaney tossed in 14. 
• McElhaney led the team with seven boards. 
• The Lakers forced 24 Bearcat turnovers.
• The Lakers shot 80% from the free throw line.
• Clayton State had 18 second-chance points. 

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers turnaround and travel to Greenwood, S.C. on Monday, January 16^th as they take on Lander University.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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