AMERICUS, Ga.  – The Clayton State University women's basketball team held off a late comeback by the No. 19 Hurricanes of Georgia Southwestern State University as they won 61-60.  The Lakers swept the regular season series with the Hurricanes. 
 
Scoring was hard to come by in the first five minutes of the game as the two teams played to a four all tie.  Jada Francois Lubin and Diamond Swift marked the points for the Lakers.  After Georgia Southwestern made a pair of free throws, the Lakers went on an 8-0 run and made the score 12-6.  Four Lakers including Jordan Jones, Jasmyn Burts, and Jada Moss marked baskets during that stretch.  The Lakers only allowed one field goal the entire quarter and led 13-11. 
 
Francois Lubin and Laylah Davis produced early the scoring for the Lakers in the second quarter as they led 17-13.  After the Hurricanes closed the gap to one at 18-17, Clayton State went on a 13-2 run and extended its lead to 31-18.  The Lakers continued to play stout defense in the second quarter and only allowed a three Hurricane field goals. 
 
The Lakers forced seven Hurricane turnovers and scored 10 points of those turnovers as they took a 32-20 lead going to the halftime break.  Neither team tossed in a three in the first 20 minutes of the game.  Francois Lubin, Jones, and Davis led the Lakers with six points. 
 
Halftime: Clayton State 32, #19 Georgia Southwestern State 20
 
The Lakers got off to a good start in the third quarter as they extended their lead to 16 at 36-20.  Audrey McElhaney and Davis dropped in baskets for the Lakers.  The Hurricanes then tried to cut into their deficit as they went on an 11-0 run and only trailed 36-31.  Raven Riley ended that lengthy scoring run dropping in the game's first three-ball.  The Lakers now led 39-31.  With the quarter winding down and with the Hurricanes closing in on the Lakers, Jones buried a three to stall any momentum for GSW and made the score 52-43.   The Lakers took a 52-45 lead going into the fourth.  Both teams combined for 17 free throws in the quarter. 
 
The Hurricanes came out of the huddle with all of the momentum to start the fourth as they cut the Laker lead to three at 52-49.  Riley then tossed in her second three of the game and Jones added a field goal as the Lakers built their lead back to six at 57-51.  After Georgia Southwestern cut the game to one at 57-56, Davis came up in the clutch and sent in a three-ball and made the score, 60-56. 
 
The Hurricanes made the score a 61-60 game with 39 seconds left, but stout defense by the Lakers on the final couple possessions were enough as they won the game, 61-60.
 
COACH COLEMAN'S THOUGHTS
"This was a great team win," said Head Coach Kaleena Coleman.  We knew coming in this was going to be a VERY competitive game.  GSW is a great team but I'm happy with the way my team is blooming right now. We are LOCHED in right now.  We are just taking it one game at a time."


GAME VITALS
Final: Clayton State 61, #19 Georgia Southwestern State 60
Records: Clayton State: 16-10 (11-6 PBC) | #19 Georgia Southwestern State: 21-5 (13-4 PBC)
Location: Storm Dome | Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, Ga.
 
QUICK HITS

• The Lakers handed the Hurricanes their first home loss (13-1)
• Davis led the Lakers with 17 points and seven boards.
• Jones followed with 11 points. 
• Riley dropped in a pair of important three-pointers. 
• McElhaney and Jones each had three steals and Swift picked up four assists.
• The Lakers have won six straight games. 

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers conclude their regular season as they travel to play the Augusta University Jaguars on Saturday, February 25^th.  Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m.  Earlier this season, the Lakers defeated the Jaguars, 77-67, on January 28^th. 
 
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