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The Lakers improve to 21-5 overall and 11-4 in the Peach Belt with one game remaining in the regular season. Defense was the difference this game for the Lakers compared to the previous outing against Augusta State (an 84-79 defeat on Feb. 7). Clayton State put the clamps on Augusta State, holding the Lady Jaguars to only 35 percent shooting from the field, including only 31 percent from 3-point range. Once again like Saturday, Clayton State got off to a sluggish start, trailing by as many as nine points early. However, two Basia Bukowska 3-point baskets spearheaded a 12-0 Laker run in which Clayton State rallied to lead by two points. Crystal Brown’s jump shot in the lane gave Clayton State a one-point lead, and then a Shantel Ragin free throw increased the lead to 27-25 with 6:21 remaining. Clayton State increased the lead to eight points on Sharon Wiles’ lay-up with 3:46 remaining, and took a 41-37 lead into the locker-room at halftime. Early in the second half, Augusta State trimmed the Laker lead to one point on a lay-up in transition by Jasmine Godwin. But Clayton State extended the lead back to 10 points as Lynette Jackson converted a 3-point play, and a 3-point basket by Roberta Phillips made the Clayton State lead 60-50 with nine minutes remaining. The lead got as high 14 points twice, and the closest Augusta State was able to trim the deficit was six points with 13 seconds remaining. For the second straight, Nikkisha Pritchett was tremendous off the bench for Clayton State. The junior wing paced the Lakers with 14 points, while Wiles scored 10 points and Alecia Humphrey added eight points. Ragin grabbed 10 rebounds. For Augusta State (17-8, 9-6), Tracey Paschal scored 12 points, followed by Godwin with 11 points and Sherika Walker recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Clayton State closes out the regular season on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. showdown against Georgia College at the Athletics and Fitness Center. It will be Senior Night for six Laker seniors playing their final games at home, and a victory means the outright Peach Belt championship for Clayton State.
Clayton State checks in ranked 22nd in this week’s Top 25 poll, down three spots from 19th last week. The Lakers received 108 points in this week’s poll after splitting two games last week. Clayton State rolled past Georgia Southwestern 107-47 last Wednesday, but dropped a 76-74 decision on Saturday at North Georgia.
The Lakers are still the only team from the Peach Belt Conference ranked in the Top 25 poll, and they are one of two teams from Georgia that are ranked. Valdosta State, who Clayton State defeated earlier in the season, is ranked 18th in this week’s poll.
Undefeated Florida Gulf Coast held on to the top spot in this week’s Division II Top 25.
Next up for
Clayton is a showdown for first place in the Peach Belt. Clayton
State (20-5, 10-4 Peach Belt) plays host to
Augusta
State
(17-7, 9-5) in a key late-season match-up on Wednesday evening at
5:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center. |
Laker women’s basketball needed a victory on Wednesday evening
against in-state rival Augusta State. And the motivation was there
to accomplish it.
Division II Top 25 Coach’s Poll for women’s basketball was released
on Tuesday evening, and the Clayton State Lakers remained in the
national rankings for another week.