Laker women open home slate with 77-62 victory over Tuskegee
Newcomer Jennings paces seventh-ranked Clayton State with 19 points

MORROW, Ga. - November 20, 2007 – After winning two thrilling games over the weekend in Tennessee, the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team had a successful 2007-08 home opener with a solid 77-62 victory over visiting Tuskegee at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

The victory was the third straight to open the season for seventh-ranked Clayton State.

The first half was near-flawless for Clayton State as the Lakers shot an impressive 55 percent from the field, including 57 percent from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the stellar Clayton State full-court pressure defense held Tuskegee to only 22 percent shooting from the field and forced 18 Tigerette turnovers.

The Lakers jumped out to an early 13-0 lead, and then stretched the lead to 29-5 on a transition lay-up by Lisa Jackson with 8:28 remaining. Clayton State’s largest lead of the first half was 31 points, 45-14 on a Jackson lay-up with 1:10 remaining.

Tuskegee made some defensive adjustments in the second half and made the game respectable. Clayton State built up its largest lead of the game at 37 points, 58-21 on a jump shot by Jennings at the 16:18 mark. However, behind the one-two combination of Crystal Benton and Aisha Johnson, Tuskegee widdled away at the Laker lead.

The Tigerettes went on an 11-2 run as Benton drained two straight jump shots and a jump shot by Johnson trimmed the Clayton State lead to 72-58 with 1:36 remaining. That, however, was as close as the Tigerettes could manage.

Jennings paced Clayton State with 19 points and four assists and three 3-point baskets, while Marie St. Fort scored 14 points with three 3-point baskets and six assists. Senior center Lynette Jackson scored 13 points with nine rebounds and four blocked shots, and Lisa Jackson added seven points and six rebounds off the bench.

For the game, Clayton State shot 51 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. The Lakers held Tuskegee to 36 percent shooting from the field and forced 28 Tigerette turnovers.

For Tuskegee (0-1), Benton scored 21 points with nine rebounds and Johnson scored 16 points.

Clayton State opens up Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday at 2 p.m., playing host to USC-Aiken at the Athletics and Fitness Center.