Back on track! Clayton State women win 67-64 thriller over visiting Augusta State
Jennings scores 14 points as Lakers improve to 14-7 and 9-5 in the Peach Belt Conference

MORROW, Ga. – February 9, 2008 – It didn’t take the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team long to get back on the winning track.

The Lakers put Wednesday’s tough defeat at Columbus State behind them with a thrilling 67-64 Peach Belt Conference victory over visiting Augusta State at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The victory improves Clayton State to 14-7 overall and 9-5 in the Peach Belt Conference, and the Lakers ended Augusta State’s five-game winning streak in the process.

Shooting 45 percent from the field and 87 percent from the free throw line, Clayton State held the lead throughout the first half. The largest Clayton State advantage was 31-19 on Shantel Ragin’s free throw with 4:35 remaining. A late rally by Augusta State trimmed the Laker lead to 37-31 at halftime.

However, in the second half, the Lady Jaguars rallied. Augusta State went on a 12-0 run and tied the game 50-50 on a lay-up by Kenisha Sheppard at the 9:40 mark. Deo Ngulela capped a 16-3 Augusta State with a lay-up to give the Lady Jaguars their first and only lead of the game, 54-53 with 8:07 remaining.

But Clayton State responded on its ensuing possession as Lisa Jackson scored on a lay-up, reclaiming the lead for good for the Lakers. That sparked a 13-2 run as Clayton State extended its lead to 10 points. Ragin’s lay-up at the 4:14 mark gave the Lakers a 66-56 lead.

There was no quit in Augusta State, however. A lay-up by Porsha White and a jumps shot in the lane by Brittany Jarrard trimmed the Laker lead to 67-62 with 2:37 remaining. White then converted two free throws to cut the deficit to three points, but Clayton State forced two big turnovers defensively and Jarrard missed a potential game-tying 3-point basket with 11 seconds remaining.

Dominique Jennings paced Clayton State with 14 points as four Laker players scored in double-figures. Ragin and Roberta Phillips each scored 12 points, while Shanrika Hardeman recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Ragin also recorded seven assists and seven steals.

For Augusta State (15-6, 9-5), Ngulela scored 14 points with six assists, and White scored 10 points for the Lady Jaguars.

Clayton State is back in action on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., playing host to in-state rival Georgia Southwestern.