SALISBURY, N.C. – The #5 Clayton State women's basketball team saw their 2022-23 season come an end as they fell to #1 Catawba College, 75-49, in the Southeast Regional Semifinals of the 2023 Division II Women's Basketball Tournament on Saturday Evening.  The Lakers finish with a final record of 19-12.
 
Diamond Swift gave the Lakers the early 3-0 lead at the beginning of the first quarter, but the rest of the quarter was controlled by Catawba as they only held the Lakers to eight points.  Raven Riley had the only other field goal for the Lakers which was a three with six seconds left.  The Lakers trailed 25-8 at the end of the first 10 minutes. 
 
The Lakers tried to cut into their deficit to start the second quarter.  Jessica Maye, Laylah Davis, Jada Francois Lubin, and Audrey McElhaney supplied the offense for the Lakers as they the Indian lead to 32-17. 
 
Catawba then ended the quarter on a 10-2 run as they pulled out in front at the half, 42-19. 
 
Halftime: #1 Catawba 42, #5 Clayton State 19
 
McElhaney and Francois Lubin kicked off the scoring for the Lakers in the third quarter moving the score to 44-25.  The Indians, however, kept their foot on the gas and then went on an 8-0 run until Jordan Jones made a field goal.  The Indians still led 52-27.  Davis and McElhaney accounted for the rest of the scoring in the quarter as they Lakers were behind 59-35 going into the final quarter. 
 
Catawba started the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run and moved the score to 66-37.  McElhaney tossed in the lone basket for the Lakers during that stretch.  At the score 68-39, Clayton State went on an 8-2 run and made the score 70-46.  Devyne Turner, Francois Lubin, and McElhaney all scored points for the Lakers. 
 
Catawba controlled the tempo of the entire game, from the tip, and downed the Lakers, 75-49. 
 
GAME VITALS
Final: #1 Catawba 75, #5 Clayton State 49
Records: #1 Catawba: 27-5 | #5 Clayton State: 19-12
Location: Goodman Gymnasium | Catawba College | Salisbury, N.C.
 
QUICK HITS

• McElhaney led the Lakers with 16 points and seven boards.
• Jada Moss followed McElhaney with four boards.
• Francois Lubin followed Audrey with six points.
• The Lakers forced 24 Indian turnovers and that led to 15 points.
• McElhaney ends her Laker career 12^th in all-time scoring with 966 points, 2^nd with 275 offensive rebounds, and in 9^th with 528 total rebounds. 
• Catawba will go on to play the Hurricanes of Georgia Southwestern State University in the Southeast Regional Final (Sweet 16) at 7 p.m.

 
The Clayton State University Department of Athletics would like to wish the seven women's basketball seniors well on their future endeavors. 
 
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