Clayton State women knock off Division I Georgia State 86-71 in preseason exhibition
Brown paces five Lakers in double-figures with 18 points

ATLANTA — NOVEMBER 2, 2006 — The Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team proved Thursday that the best of NCAA Division II basketball can beat NCAA Division I squads, and the Lakers did it in convincing fashion.

Clayton State, ranked 24th in the nation preseason in Division II, spanked metro-Atlanta NCAA Division I opponent Georgia State University 86-71 at the Georgia State Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA. It's the first victory over a Division I opponent for the Lakers in the history of Clayton State women's basketball.

Five players scored in double figures for the Lakers, led by 18 points from senior guard Crystal Brown. Senior forward Alecia Humphrey posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Sharon Wiles collected 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and seven steals.

Sophomore guard Marie St. Fort came off the bench nailing 3-of-5 from 3-point range and finished with 11 points. Junior forward Shantel Ragin also came off the bench to score 10 points.

Clayton State held Georgia State to 34 percent shooting in the second period and out scored Georgia State 49-31 in the stanza. After the Panthers staked an eight point lead, 48-40, three minutes into the frame, Ragin and Humphreys combined for a 9-0 Lakers’ run to put Clayton State in front 49-48 with 16:05 remaining.

The score was tied at 53-53 with 13:13 on the clock when Wiles’ jumper ignited a 19-3 spurt for the Lakers, capped by three straight 3-pointers from St. Fort and senior guard Basia Bukowska to put Clayton State ahead 72-56 with 8:01 on the clock. Georgia State would get no closer than nine points, 78-69, the rest of the way as the Lakers made 8-of-9 free throws over the final two minutes to help seal the win.

In the first half, Georgia State held a 13-point lead with 2:25 remaining, but Clayton State fought back to go into halftime down by only three, 40-37.

For the game, Clayton State was 49 percent (32-of-66) from the floor and 43 percent (6-for-14) from beyond the arc. The Lakers made 16-of-24 free throw attempts. Georgia State shot 40 percent (30-of-75) from the floor and 9 percent (1-for-11) from 3-point range. The Panthers made 10-of-18 free throws. Clayton State out rebounded Georgia State, 48-43.

Georgia State sophomore guard Brittany Hollins scored a game-high 24 points for the Panthers. Freshman forward Danyiell McKeller posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Clayton State will return to action on Sunday, hosting West Virginia Tech in a 2 p.m. exhibition game at the Athletics & Fitness Center.