ANDERSON, S.C. – The Clayton State University women's basketball team opened its 2024-25 season on Friday afternoon as they fell to UVA Wise, 66-64, in a nailbiter. The Cavaliers scored the go-ahead basket with 17 ticks to go to win the game. 
 
The first quarter was dominated by the Cavaliers as they pulled out to an early, 14-4 lead.  Sariya Henry and Kyla Greene scored points for the Lakers. Clayton State started to inch their way back into the game with 3:30 minutes left.  Jadah Waite and Jasmyn Burts sparked a 9-4 run to end the quarter and the score read, 18-13 going into the second quarter.  Waite and Armani Shaw got the Lakers within one at 18-17 in the early going of the second quarter.  UVA Wise then goes on a 7-0 run and made the score, 25-17.  Then, Dazjanae Greene converted an and-one and made a layup and cut the lead to three at 25-22. 
 
The Lakers saw Waite and Burts score the final six baskets of the half, but the Cavaliers took a slim, 30-28 lead going into the locker room. 
 
Halftime: UVA Wise 30, Clayton State 28
 
The Cavaliers got off to a hot start in the third quarter and eventually took a 37-31 lead with six minutes left.  At the score, 42-33, the Lakers went on a mini 5-0 run and cut the deficit to four at 42-38.  UVA Wise went into the fourth quarter up, 48-42.  India Green-Dowling and Etaria Gibbons scored points down the stretch for the Lakers.  The two teams went back-and-forth to start the fourth quarter as Dazjanae Greene and Waite scored points and made the score, 52-49.  In the final five minutes of the game, neither team had a lead bigger than three. 
 
With 1:40 left in the game and with the score, 60-57, Henry and Gibbons knock in baskets and the Lakers took a slim, 61-60 lead.  After the Cavaliers hit a free throw and a layup, Burts buried a three and the Lakers led, 64-63 with 23 ticks left. 
 
The Cavaliers, however, scored the final three points of the game and they went onto win a tight one, 66-64. 
 
QUICK HITS

• Waite led the Lakers with 18 points while Burts followed with 13 points. 
• Green-Dowling led the Lakers with 12 boards. 
• The Lakers shot, 10-for-14 from the free throw line.
• The Lakers scored 40 points in the paint and saw 24 points from off the bench. 

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers (0-1) conclude the Conference Challenge with a game against the Tournament host Anderson University on Saturday, November 9^th at 1 p.m.
 
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