MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University women's basketball team picked up its first Peach Belt Conference (PBC) victory of the season as they upended the Mountain Lions of Young Harris College, 69-66, on Wednesday evening at the Loch.  The Lakers saw a double-double from Audrey McElhaney as she scored 19 points and grabbed 10 boards.
 
The Lakers got off to a fast start in the first quarter as they scored nine of the first 10 points.  Jadah Waite hit a three-pointer while Laylah Davis and McElhaney added baskets.  The Lakers kept up the pace as Davis knocked down a three and McElhaney buried a jumper.  The Lakers led 14-1.  Then after Young Harris marked their first field goal of the game, Jordan Jones, and Davis each drained a three-pointer.  Clayton State took a commanding 20-4 lead.  The Lakers only surrendered nine points the whole quarter and took a 21-9 lead going into the second. 
 
The Lakers saw an early basket by Waite and Davis to open the second quarter as they extended their lead to 24-9.  After McElhaney buried a jumper and made the score 29-13, the Mountain Lions hit three, three-pointers in a row and closed the gap to 31-22.  Young Harris continued to pressure the Lakers and tied the game at 31 with 37 seconds left in the quarter.
 
Young Harris was down by as much as 16 in the second quarter, but they took a one-point lead going into the locker room at 32-31. 
 
Halftime: Young Harris 32, Clayton State 31
 
The two teams went back-and-forth to begin the second half as Waite and McElhaney each knocked down a jumper and made the score 35-34.  After the Mountain Lions jumped out to a four-point lead at 41-37, the Lakers immediately tied the game at 41 after baskets by Raven Riley and McElhaney. Young Harris then went on a 6-0 run to end the third quarter and they took a 47-41 lead at the end of three. 
 
After the Mountain Lions made the first bucket of the fourth quarter, the Lakers saw points from McElhaney, Riley, and Jessica Maye and cut the lead to 49-47.  With under five left, Waite drained back-to-back threes while Jones and McElhaney made free throws.  The Lakers retook the lead at 63-56. 
 
Despite a late comeback by the Mountain Lions, the Lakers survived and won, 69-66. 
 
GAME VITALS
Final: Clayton State 69, Young Harris 66
Records: Clayton State: 6-5 (1-1 PBC) | Young Harris: 5-6 (1-2 PBC)
Location: The Loch | Clayton State University | Morrow, Ga.
 
QUICK HITS

• McElhaney led the Lakers with 19 points, 10 boards, and six steals.
• Davis and Waite followed with 16 points.
• Both Davis and Waite made three, three-pointers.
• The Lakers outscored the Mountain Lions, 22-2, on fastbreak points.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers travel to Columbus, Ga. and take on the Cougars of Columbus State University on Saturday, January 7^th.  Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
 
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