SALISBURY, N.C. – The fifth-seeded Clayton State University women's basketball team advances to the Southeast Regional Semifinals as they used a stellar fourth quarter to top the four-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears, 65-48, at the Goodman Gymnasium on Friday evening.  The Lakers won their first NCAA Tournament game since 2013.
 
The Lakers got off to a fast start in the first quarter.  Jada Francois Lubin, Diamond Swift, and I'Uana Slaughter all buried three-pointers as the Lakers took a 11-3 lead early.  The Lakers led 15-5 until the Bears used an 8-0 run to make the score, 15-13.  Devyne Turner then banked a layup off the glass to extend the Laker lead to 17-13.  Laylah Davis drained a three-ball with eight seconds left as Clayton State held a 20-13 lead at the end of one quarter.  The Lakers forced eight Lenoir-Rhyne turnovers in the first 10 minutes. 
 
The two teams got off to cold starts to start the second quarter.  The first Laker field goal came two-and-a-half minutes into the quarter as McElhaney made a jumper.  Clayton State led 22-15.  That jumper sparked a 7-0 run and made the score, 27-15. 
 
The Lakers did not score in the final 3:40 in the game but held a 28-20 lead going into the halftime break.  The Lakers outrebounded the Bears, 21-15, and forced 17 turnovers. 
 
Halftime: #5 Clayton State 28, #4 Lenoir-Rhyne 20
 
The Lakers started off the scoring in the third quarter when Slaughter tossed in a three-pointer.  The Lakers led 31-22.  After Davis made a three making the score 34-26, the Bears countered with a lengthy 15-0 scoring run and took a 41-34 lead.  The Lakers still had fight in them in the closing minute of the quarter as McElhaney scored the final four points and made the score 41-38 going into the final quarter of play. 
 
Hannah Wright nailed a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter for the Lakers and tied the game at 41 all.  After a Bear jumper, the Laker offense, led by McElhaney and Maye came to life and went on a 18-2 run and went up 59-45. 
 
That proved to be the difference maker in the game as the Lakers advance to play the top-seeded Indians of Catawba College tomorrow evening as they won 65-48. 
 
COACH COLEMAN'S THOUGHTS
On the game: "Tonight's win was great", said head women's basketball coach Kaleena Coleman. Hats off to Lenoir-Rhyne and we knew coming in that they were a great team.  We have been focused on them since we knew who we were going to play in the first round.  We got out of the first round, tonight, with a lot of hard work and I am so proud of my players as they stuck together through a little adversity. We stuck to our game plan and came out tonight with a victory."

On Facing Catawba: "We will be ready," said Coleman.  "It is going to be a great game and I will make sure to have our team ready to compete tomorrow."

GAME VITALS
Final: #5 Clayton State 65, #4 Lenoir-Rhyne 48
Records: #5 Clayton State: 19-11 | #4 Lenoir-Rhyne: 23-7
Location: Goodman Gymnasium | Catawba College | 2023 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament | Salisbury, N.C.
 
QUICK HITS

• Maye led the Lakers with 18 points, went 8-for-9 from the field, and grabbed six rebounds.
• McElhaney followed Maye with 14 points and six boards. 
• With 13 assists on the night, Swift broke Tanisha Woodard's program record for the most assists in a single game.  Woodard dished out 12 assists in a game in 2010 against UNC Pembroke. 
• Swift also added six rebounds and eight points. 
• Davis rounded out the double-digit point totals with 10 points off the bench. 
• The Lakers forced 23 L-R turnovers. 

 
QUICK HITS (CATAWBA)

• The Lakers last played Catawba on November 12^th, 2010, and won, 80-69.
• Clayton State is 1-1 all-time against the Indians.
• Catawba was the Regular Season champions in South Atlantic Conference (SAC) and are currently No. 20 in the nation. 

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The #5 Lakers play #1 Catawba College Indians on Saturday, March 11^th, in the Southeast Regional Semifinals at the Goodman Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.  Please visit claytonstatesports.com for more information. 
 
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.