Ragin paces Clayton State women to 99-90 thriller over visiting Lander
Senior forward scores career-high 28 points as Lakers improve to 17-8 and 12-6 in the Peach Belt

MORROW, Ga. – February 23, 2008 – In recent weeks, Shantel Ragin has been emerging as a legitimate star in women’s basketball for the Peach Belt Conference.

On Saturday, the Clayton State senior forward came through again, this time against visiting Lander. Ragin scored a career-high 28 points on "Senior Night" as Clayton State outlasted Lander 99-90 in a key Peach Belt Conference showdown at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The victory improves Clayton State to 17-8 overall and 12-6 in the Peach Belt, and the Lakers remain a game behind Francis Marion for first place in the conference.

In addition, Clayton State has now won eight straight games head-to-head against Lander.

The Lakers overcame a slow start by shooting 53 percent from the field in the first half to take an eight-point lead at halftime.

Ragin tied the game at 38-38 on a 3-point basket with 3:21 remaining, igniting a 15-4 Clayton State run to conclude the first half. After Lander tied the game, Clayton State re-took the lead on consecutive lay-ups by Shanrika Hardeman and Ragin, followed by consecutive 3-point baskets by Marie St. Fort and Dominique Jennings to lead 50-42 at the break.

Behind the stellar inside play of center Shannon McKever, Lander twice cut the Laker lead to three points. Her lay-up at the 11:25 mark made the Clayton State lead 69-66. Clayton State twice increased the lead back to eight points, only to see Lancer utilize its inside game and cut the lead to 84-82 on a driving lay-up by Tiara Good with 5:50 remaining.

That, however, was as close as Lander would get. Clayton State responded with a three-point play by Ragin on its ensuing possession, starting a 10-0 Laker run to put the game away. Roberta Phillips followed with a lay-up, followed by another three-point play by Ragin and a jump shot by Phillips to make the Laker lead 94-82 with 3:33 remaining.

A Phillips 3-point basket at the 1:46 mark stretched the Clayton State lead to 97-84.

In addition to Ragin, St. Fort scored 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting from 3-point range as five Lakers reached double-figures. Lisa Jackson scored 13 points, followed by Phillips with 12 points on "Senior Night." Hardeman added 10 points for the Lakers, who shot 54 percent from the field and 10-for-20 (50 percent) from 3-point range.

For Lander (17-11, 11-7), McKever scored 28 points on 13-for-16 shooting from the field, followed by Good with 20 points. Stephanie Ponds scored 16 points off the bench, and LaShonda Chiles scored 13 points. Lander shot 55 percent from the field.

Clayton State hits the road for a key Peach Belt Conference road showdown at USC-Aiken on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.