21st-ranked Clayton State women survive scare at rival West Georgia 60-56
 Brown paces balanced Laker attack with 11 points as Clayton State remains undefeated

CARROLLTON, Ga. --- DECEMBER 6, 2006 --- Normally, the Clayton State Laker women’s  basketball team loves to push the ball and dictate the game against its opponents. However, on Wednesday at in-state rival West Georgia, the Lakers experienced some slow-down in the attack.

Despite scoring more than 20 points under its average, it was enough as the Laker women squeaked out a 60-56 victory over West Georgia at the HPE Building. The victory kept Clayton State, ranked 21st in this week’s USA Today/ESPN Division II Coach’s Poll, undefeated at 6-0 on the season. All six of those victories have been on the road.

 

Clayton State shot the ball well in both halves. However, West Georgia’s slow-down tempo kept the game close in the first half. The Wolves overcame an early Laker lead with a 7-0 run to lead 15-10 with 9:53 remaining. A free throw by Rachel Washington stretched the Wolve lead to 25-19 with 2:33 remaining.

 

The Lakers used a 6-0 run, capped by Nikkisha Pritchett’s lay-up at the 1:08 mark to tie the game at 25-25. However, West Georgia took a 27-25 lead at halftime on an Alexis Pace lay-up with 46 seconds remaining. The Wolves forced 14 Laker turnovers in the first half.

 

Clayton State got a lay-up from Crystal Brown at the 17:43 mark in the second half to give the Lakers a 29-28 lead. They would not relinquish it as West Georgia shot only 35 percent from the floor in the second half.

 

The Lakers twice extended the lead to 10 points, and then to 12 points 58-46 on Alecia Humphrey’s 3-point basket with 2:57 remaining. West Georgia finished the game on a 10-2 run, trimming the Laker lead to four points with 26 seconds remaining. Clayton State missed two free throws in the final 14 seconds, but the Wolves failed to convert offensively.

 

Brown paced Clayton State in scoring with 11 points, while Humphrey and Lynette Jackson each scored 10 points. For the game, Clayton State shot 51 percent from the field, while limiting West Georgia to only 32 percent shooting from the field.

 

Rita Grayson scored 16 points for West Georgia (4-5), followed by Kristen Murdock with 12 points and Erica McCoy scored 10 points.

 

Clayton State finally plays its home opener on Saturday, and it will be a dandy. The 21st-ranked Lakers play host to 11th-ranked Delta State at 5:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.