Women's Basketball | March 6, 2024

MORROW, Ga. – The #6 Clayton State University women's basketball team travels down to Americus to play the #3 Cougars of Columbus State at 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon in the Quarterfinals of the 2024 Peach Belt Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.  The Lakers hope to duplicate last season where they reached the semifinals. 
 
THE MATCHUP
This is the third time this season that the Lakers and Cougars have squared up.  Below are some of the game notes from the past couple of matchups between these two schools. 

• The Lakers come into Tournament play with a 9-18 record and 7-11 record in the PBC while Columbus State enters with a 17-9 record and 13-5 in the PBC. 
• The Lakers and Cougars split the season series as Clayton State won the first meeting on January 17^th, 54-52 while Columbus State won the matchup on February 14^th, 64-54. 
• These two teams played in last year's quarterfinal where the Lakers won 75-71. 
• The Lakers are 5-1 over Columbus State in PBC Tournament play dating back to 2005. 

LOOKING AHEAD

• The winner of this quarterfinal game would play the winner of the Augusta vs. Georgia College & State game. 
• The Lakers lost both games to Augusta this season while splitting the season series over the Bobcats. 

IMPACT PLAYERS
The Lakers are led by Nina Blade and Aaliyah Reid going into the tournament.  Below is some information on those players:

Nina Blade (Sr. | Forward | Milwaukee, Wis.)

• Leads the team in field goal percentage (44.9%), free throw percentage (78.8%), and is second in rebounds a game (7.5), and total rebounds (156)
• She has scored in double figures in three of the last four games. 
• Posted three double doubles this season.

Aaliyah Reid (Jr. | Forward | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

• Leads the team with 7.7 rebounds a game and 193 total boards.
• Broke the school record for most offensive rebounds in a single game with 12 against North Georgia (3/2) and grabbed the second most rebounds in a game with 20 boards. 
• Notched double doubles in back-to-back games to close the regular season.
• Scored 6.7 points and shot 40% from the field.

 
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