Clayton State expected and got a strong challenge from the Lady Braves. However, a late second-half charge proved to be the difference as the Lakers pulled away with an 82-61 victory in its Peach Belt Conference opener. The victory keeps ninth-ranked Clayton State undefeated at 9-0 overall. UNC Pembroke falls to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the Peach Belt.
“The score is not indicative of what kind of game it was,” said Clayton State head coach Dennis Cox. “This is a tough place to play, and this is arguably the most talented UNC Pembroke team I’ve seen since I’ve been at Clayton State. For 30 minutes today, it was a tight game.”
The first half produced three ties and five lead-changes as Clayton State led by as many as 11 points. The Lakers took the lead for good, 14-12 on a 3-point basket by Tanisha Woodard. Clayton State stretched the lead to eight points, 22-14 on another long 3-point basket by Woodard at the 5:26 mark.
After the Lady Braves trimmed the lead to five points, Clayton State went back up by 11 points, 33-22 on a jump shot by Teshymia Tillman with 1:46 remaining. However, UNC Pembroke cut the Laker lead to 36-30 at halftime on a 3-point basket by Kristen Hobbs.
Early in the second half, UNC Pembroke twice trimmed the Laker lead to two points. A lay-up by Domonique Washington at the 14:46 mark cut the Clayton State lead to 45-43. That’s when the Lakers made their move.
Ahead 49-45, Clayton State went on a 13-3 run over a six-minute span to take control. Brittany Hall drained a 3-point basket to start the rally, and then scored on a driving lay-up to give the Lakers a 54-45 lead with 11:21 remaining. Latonda Bruce followed with a lay-up, and a driving lay-up in transition by Drameka Griggs gave Clayton State a 62-48 lead at the 6:41 mark.
UNC Pembroke would get no closer than 11 points after that spurt. Clayton State took its largest lead of the game 82-58 with 23 seconds remaining on a lay-up in the paint by Timethia Bennett.
“We were able to get some stops together late, and that gradually gave us some separation,” Cox said. “We were tenacious defensively and eventually wore them down.
Woodard had a tremendous game for the Lakers with a double-double, scoring 12 points and setting a single-game Clayton State record for assists with 12. Tillman paced Clayton State with 17 points, followed by Griggs with 16 points and Breanna Fort scored 12 points.
For the game, Clayton State shot 51 percent from the field, including 41 percent from 3-point range, and 79 percent from the free throw line.
For UNC Pembroke, Washington and DayDay Ray each scored 13 points, while Briana Stanton and Talena Faison each scored 10 points.
Clayton State is off until Dec. 18, when the Lakers play host to Augusta State at 5:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.
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