GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Clayton State University women's basketball team opened a stretch of three games in six games as they traveled to play the Lander University Bearcats on Monday evening. The Lakers went onto defeat Lander, 78-73, after overcoming a 17-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.   
 
The first quarter saw the Lakers take an early 9-5 lead.  Sariya Henry, Jada Alston, Ky'Leo Worriels, and Jadah Waite all scored points for the Lakers during that stretch.  The two teams found themselves tied at 15 at the end of the first 10 minutes.
 
Lander then took over the second quarter.  They started the quarter on a 9-2 run and led, 25-17.  Waite hit a layup to halt the run.  With the Bearcats up, 29-19, Dazjanae Greene hit a layup and Hannah Wright tossed in a three to cut the deficit to 31-24. Lander, however, only allowed one more Laker point the entire quarter and took a 41-25 lead going into the locker room.  Waite led the Lakers with five points and Worriels grabbed a team-high five boards. 
 
Halftime: Lander 41, Clayton State 25
 
The offense started to come to life a little for the Lakers in the third quarter.  The quarter started with Alston converting a three-point play and Etaria Gibbons tossing in a basket making the score, 45-30. With seven minutes left, Henry scored the next six points for the Lakers and made the score, 53-38.  At the score, 55-38, the Lakers then went on an 8-0 run and made the score, 55-46.  Lander then struck back notching the final nine points of the quarter and took a 63-46 lead going into the final quarter. 
 
The Lakers, trailing by 17, mounted a tremendous comeback at the start of the fourth quarter. Young, Waite, Alston combined for the first 13 points of the quarter and closed the gap to four at 63-59. With 3:11 left in the game, the Lakers then eventually erased a 17-point deficit and took the lead at 68-64 after Gibbons, Waite, and Young made baskets. 
 
The Lakers scored 32 points in the fourth quarter and overcame a 17-point deficit to earn the 78-73 victory on the road at Lander. 
 
QUICK HITS

• Waite led the Lakers with 22 points and six steals.  Waite just passed Shacamra Jackson for 10^th all-time in career points and is 15 points away from 1,000 career points.   
• Alston and Young followed with 13 points. 
• Alston led the Lakers with eight boards. 
• The Lakers outscored the Bearcats, 53-32 and shot 62% from the field in the second half.
• The Lakers forced 27 Lander turnovers and turned that into 26 points. 
• Clayton State has beaten Lander in Greenwood for the first time since February 2^nd, 2013. 
• The Lakers have won three of their last four games.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers (5-9 (2-2 PBC)) hit the road and play Columbus State on Wednesday, January 15^th.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. down in Columbus, Ga.  The Lakers have won four of their last six matchups against Columbus State. 
 
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.