Women's Basketball | March 9, 2023
MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University women's basketball is set to open the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Southeast Regional play on Friday evening against Lenoir-Rhyne University at 7:30 p.m.
COACH COLEMAN SPEAKS
"The team is very excited with this opportunity to play in the National Tournament," said Head Coach Kaleena Coleman." It feels like an eternity for me getting back there and in the last one we were selected for; we did not get a chance to play because of COVID. I feel they are humble and hungry.
We are facing some good competition and we plan to go out and compete to the fullest. LAKER PRIDE!"
TOURNAMENT TIDBITS
- This is the 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Clayton State and the first since the 2019 season. It is to be noted that the Lakers were selected to play in the 2020 Tournament, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Clayton State is 21-11 All-time in Tournament play.
- The Lakers are seeking their first tournament victory since 2013, the year they advanced to the Elite Eight.
- Clayton State won the 2011 NCAA Tournament, marking the only national championship in school history.
- The Lakers have not beaten a SAC opponent in the Tournament since they beat Limestone, in the Sweet 16, back in 2013.
THE BOOK ON LENOIR-RHYNE
- The Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne were crowned as the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament Champions after beating Anderson, 63-59.
- L-R finished the regular season with a final record of 25-7 and went 11-7 in the SAC.
- The Bears lost their final two regular season games to Carson-Newman and UVA Wise before sweeping through the SAC Tournament.
- In the tournament, the Bears defeated the No. 1 seeded Catawba in the Semifinals.
- They are one of four teams in their conference to win 20+ games and they have not won 20+ games since the 2013-14 season.
- The Bears have not been to the NCAA Tournament since the 2013-14 season.
IMPACT PLAYERS FOR L-R
The Bears are led by Blaikley Crook. Crook, who earned a first-team All-SAC recognition, leads the team with 14.9 points a game, 182 field goals made, 461 total points, and with 61 steals. She is second on the team with 14 blocks. Another impact player for the Bears is Emily Harman. Harman, who earned second-team All-SAC honors and was the MVP of the SAC Tournament, is second on the team with 14.5 points a game and 5.5 rebounds a game. Harman is also second on the team with 95 assists and 58 steals.
IMPACT PLAYERS FOR CLAYTON STATE
The Lakers are led by senior forward
Audrey McElhaney and sophomore transfer
Laylah Davis. A native of Tifton, Ga., McElhaney leads the Lakers with 11.4 points a game, 331 total points, 124 made field goals, 82 made free throws, 6.5 rebounds a game, 189 total rebounds, 57 steals, and 35 blocks. Her 117 offensive rebounds also leads the team, the PBC, and is eighth in the nation. So far this season, Audrey has posted four double-doubles, 17 games of double-digit scoring, and five games of double-digit rebound totals. Audrey was awarded the PBC Defensive Player of the Year and grabbed a first-team All-PBC honor.
A native of Saginaw, Texas, Davis, has made the best of her first year as a Laker. Davis leads the team with 41 made three-pointers and with a 87.2% free throw percentage while she is second on the team with 11.2 points a game, 99 field goals made, 75 free throws made, 50 assists, and with 314 total points scored. The Laker sophomore scored in double-figures in 15 games this season. Davis was selected as a second-team All-PBC selection.
The Lakers have also saw contributions from
Diamond Swift,
Jada Moss, and
Jordan Jones. Swift leads the Lakers with 91 assists. Moss is second on the team with 119 rebounds and is averaging 4.3 a game. Jones is second on the team with 23 made three-pointers.
The Lakers are fourth in the nation with 5.3 blocks a game and is fifth in the nation with 153 blocks.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE LAKERS
Fans can follow the Lakers' journey in the Southeast Regional from the campus of Catawba College with the links below. It is to be noted that there is a paywall to watch the games as they are being streamed on FloSports.
Live Stats
Live Stream
Tickets (all tickets must be purchased online)
Tournament Central
Interactive Bracket
Game Notes
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on
Twitter,
Instagram and
Facebook.
