Phillips’ game-winner propels Clayton State women to 78-75 overtime thriller at Lander
Senior guard scores career-high 21 points as Lakers improve to 9-5 overall and 4-3 in Peach Belt

GREENWOOD, S.C. – January 19, 2008 – In heavy-contested basketball games, seniors have a tendency to come up big in crucial situations. Roberta Phillips did just that for the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team in Saturday at Lander.

The senior guard drained a huge 3-point basket with eight seconds remaining in overtime to lift Clayton State to a thrilling 78-75 victory over Lander at Horne Arena. The victory improved Clayton State to 9-5 overall and 4-3 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Lakers also handed Lander its first Peach Belt defeat on the season.

"That was huge," said Clayton State head coach Dennis Cox. "We’re not dead yet, and this team is really showing its heart. We had some big efforts by everyone, both starting and off the bench. Berta is simply a champion and she carried us down the stretch and in the overtime period."

Clayton State appeared in control after a tremendous first half in which the Lakers forced 19 Bearcat turnovers and held Lander to only 22 percent shooting from the field for a 34-18 lead at halftime. However, Lander stormed back by shooting 59 percent from the field in the second half.

The Bearcats used a 15-3 run to tie the game at 58-58 on a 3-point play by Kiana Smith with 2:51 remaining. Lander then took its first lead of the game on its ensuing possession on a Stephanie Ponds jump shot at the 1:42 mark.

Two free throws by Ponds increased the Lander lead to 62-59 with 1:16 remaining, but Clayton State tied the game at the one-minute mark on Dominique Jennings’ 3-point bank shot. The Lakers retook the lead on a jump shot in the lane by Phillips with 23 seconds, only to have Lander tie it on a running jump shot by LaShonda Childs with eight seconds remaining.

Clayton State had a final opportunity to win in regulation, but Kim Larry’s 10-foot jump shot went rimmed out as time expired.

The Lakers shot a sizzling 88 percent (7-for-8) from the field in the overtime period. However, there were three lead changes and two ties in the extra session. Phillips gave the Lakers a 71-70 on a 3-point basket from the corner with 2:24 remaining, followed by a jumper by Childs to give Lander the lead.

Ponds then gave the Bearcats a 75-73 on a jump shot at the 1:13 mark, but the Lakers responded with a driving lay-up by Ragin with 1:10 remaining.

Following a turnover by Childs, Clayton State gained the ball for the final possession. It was Jennings who fed Phillips on the right wing for the go-ahead 3-point basket with eight seconds remaining. Lander had one final shot at forcing a second overtime, but Childs’ 3-point attempt was off at the buzzer.

Phillips paced Clayton State with a career-high 21 points, along with five rebounds and four steals. Ragin scored 19 points with six rebounds and five steals, and Larry was crucial off the bench, scoring 12 points with six rebounds.

For Lander (11-5, 5-1), Childs scored 16 points, while Ponds, Shannon McKeever and Tiara Good each had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds each. TaSheba Butler added 10 points off the bench for the Bearcats.

Clayton State returns to the Athletics and Fitness Center on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference showdown against in-state rival Georgia College.