Laker women drop 79-67 decision at defending NCAA Division II National Champion Southern Connecticut State
St. Fort scores 21 points to pace 11th-ranked Lakers, now 5-3 overall

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – December 16, 2007 – Battling the frigid cold New England weather all weekend, the 11th-ranked Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team battled its second straight Division II Top 10 opponent on Sunday. This time, Clayton State came up of the short end of a 79-67 decision at 10th-ranked and defending NCAA Division II National Champion Southern Connecticut State.

The defeat drops Clayton State to 5-3 overall heading into the holiday break.

Clayton State had a strong game offensively, shooting 48 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line. In addition, the Lakers also out-rebounded Southern Connecticut State 36-28. However, taking care of the basketball was Clayton State’s Achilles’ Heel as the Lakers committed 30 turnovers.

Shooting a strong 61 percent from the field in the first half, Clayton State stayed within striking distance of the Owls. Five times, the Lakers cut the Southern Connecticut lead to five points, including 31-30 with 2:40 remaining on a jump shot by Shantel Ragin. That capped an 11-1 Clayton State run when the Lakers nearly wiped out a nine-point Owl lead.

Two free throws by Lisa Jackson put the Lakers down by one point, 35-34 at halftime.

However, Southern Connecticut State steadily pulled away in the second half. After Clayton State trimmed the lead to 49-44 on a Marie St. Fort jump shot at the 13:12 mark, the Owls stretched the lead to 15 points with a 13-3 run over the next three minutes. A jump shot by Rochelle Johnson gave Southern Connecticut State a 62-47 lead with 10:32 remaining.

The Lakers cut the deficit to seven points on a lay-up by Jackson with 6:55 remaining, but that was as close as Clayton State would get. Southern Connecticut State stretched the lead back to 14 points, 79-65 on a 3-point basket by Michelle Martinik with 51 seconds remaining.

St. Fort scored 21 points to pace Clayton State, followed by Jackson with 18 points and nine rebounds. Ragin scored 11 points and dished out five assists, while Dominique Jennings added eight points.

For Southern Connecticut State (8-2), Kate Lynch scored 23 points on the strength of 12-for-14 shooting from the free throw line. Kaylie Schiavetta scored 17 points, followed by Martinik with 15 points. Lexi Allen scored 13 points off the bench for the Owls, who shot an impressive 85 percent (23-for-27) from the free throw line.

Clayton State is off for the holiday break. The Lakers return to action with the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic on Dec. 29-30 at the Athletics and Fitness Center. Clayton State plays host to Lenoir-Rhyne on Dec. 29 and Fayetteville State on Dec. 30.