Clayton State women drop tough 66-61 decision at in-state rival Columbus State
Ragin scores 16 points as Laker women fall to 13-7 overall and 8-5 in the Peach Belt Conference

COLUMBUS, Ga. – February 6, 2008 – Aiming to make a move closer to the top of the Peach Belt Conference, the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team dropped a tough 66-61 decision at rival Columbus State on Wednesday. The defeat drops the Lakers to 13-7 overall and 8-5 in the Peach Belt Conference.

Clayton State entered the game in a three-way tie for second in the Peach Belt Conference with Augusta State and Lander, while Columbus State was a half-game behind the trio. A victory by the Lakers would’ve pulled them to within a game of first-place Francis Marion, which dropped an 81-71 decision at USC-Aiken on Wednesday.

This was vintage Clayton State-Columbus State as neither team led by more than eight points, and there were five ties and eight lead-changes. The first half was as even as it could get as Clayton State wiped out a five-point Columbus State lead as Marie St. Fort’s lay-up with 43 seconds remaining tied the game 25-25 at halftime.

Two 3-point baskets by Maria Grimes gave Columbus State a 41-34 lead with 13:16 remaining. However, Clayton State responded with a 16-4 run to take a six-point lead.

Shantel Ragin started the rally with a 3-point play, followed by lay-ups by Lisa Jackson and St. Fort to tie the game at 41-41. St. Fort then tied the game on a 3-point basket, and Dominique Jennings put the Lakers ahead 48-45 on a 3-point play at the 9:32 mark.

St. Fort then gave Clayton State a 51-45 lead with 8:50 remaining. However, After a Ragin lay-up at the 7:36 mark, Clayton State would go approximately six minutes without a field goal.

Columbus State tied the game at 55-55 on a jump shot by KeAnna Vicks, and then took the lead for good on two free throws by Ashley Stafford with 4:13 remaining. The Lady Cougars increased the lead to 62-56 on a 3-point play by Monica Sicka off a Laker turnover with 1:26 remaining.

Ragin paced Clayton State with 16 points on a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Jackson scored 13 points, while St. Fort scored 12 points and Jennings added 11 points.

For Columbus State (12-7, 8-4 PBC), Stafford scored 22 points on 12-for-15 shooting from the free throw line, while Sicka and Grimes each scored 14 points. Hali Moore added 11 points for the Lady Cougars. Columbus State out-rebounded Clayton State 38-29, including 11 offensive rebounds.

Clayton State is back in action at home on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against in-state rival Augusta State.