MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Clayton State University women's basketball returned to the court for the first time since November 29^th as they opened play in the Florida Tech Holiday Tournament on Monday afternoon.  The Lakers took on NAIA foe Talladega College and won the game in dominating fashion, 68-39. 
 
The Lakers put on a defensive clinic in the first half as they allowed 15 points and caused 23 Tornado turnovers.  Clayton State scored 19 of their 27 points off those turnovers.  Jasmyn Burts led the Lakers with seven points in the half while Hannah Wright and Zoe Wiltz threw in six.  The Lakers were also solid on the boards as they grabbed 13 offensive rebounds 18 total rebounds.  Clayton State held Talladega to five field goals the entire half and led 27-15 after the first 20 minutes of action. 
 
Halftime: Clayton State 27, Talladega 15
 
The Lakers continued to keep Talladega off balance offensively in the second half only allowing 24 points the entire half.  Clayton State saw good offensive output from Burts and Sariya Henry at the start of the third quarter.  Henry scored six points in a span of 90 seconds at the start of the quarter.  In the back half of the quarter and with the Lakers up 38-19, Jadah Waite took over offensively and tossed in six straight points and the Lakers led 44-20.  Nylah Williams, Wright, and Azhana Maxwell all scored in the final couple of minutes as Clayton State took a 53-25 lead going into the fourth. 
 
The fourth quarter was a lot of the same for Clayton State.  However, the tornadoes scored eight of the first 11 points of the quarter and the score read 56-33.  Waite, Williams, and Wright then added points and made the score 67-37 with under two left.  Wright and Waite knocked down three-pointers. 
 
The Lakers picked up their second win as they blew past Talladega, 68-39
 
GAME VITALS
Final: Clayton State 68, Talladega 39
Records: Clayton State: 2-6 | Talladega 3-5
Location: Clemente Center | Florida Tech | Melbourne, Fla.
 
QUICK HITS

• Wright and Waite led the Lakers with 14 points.
• Henry led the Lakers with five rebounds.
• This is the fewest points given up in a single game for the Lakers since the 2020-21 season where they gave up 38 points to Georgia College
• 44 is the second-most caused turnovers in a game in school history and the most since the 2010-11 season where they caused 42 turnovers against Georgia Southwestern on February 2^nd.  The Lakers turned over Augusta 46 times on December 18^th of the same season.
• The Lakers grabbed 19 offensive rebounds against only 14 defensive boards.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers go for their third-straight win as they take on the Panthers of Florida Tech in the final game of the Florida Tech Holiday Tournament on Tuesday, December 19^th.  Tipoff is set for noon inside the Clemente Center. 
 
 
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.