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32” of the NCAA Division II National Tournament, the Clayton State
Laker women’s basketball took the all-important next step on
Saturday.Playing their big in-state rivals for the fourth time this season, top-seeded Clayton State fought and persevered to a thrilling 63-60 victory over fifth seeded Columbus State in the South Atlantic Regional semifinals at Clayton State’s Athletics and Fitness Center. The victory improves 16th-ranked Clayton State to 27-5 overall and the Lakers advance to the “Sweet 16” for the first time in program history. Standing in Clayton State’s way for a South Atlantic Regional championship and the right to advance to the Division II National Tournament “Elite Eight” is another familiar in-state rival – Georgia College. The Lakers and Lady Bobcats square off Monday night in the championship game at 7 p.m. at the Athletics & Fitness Center. Once again, the Laker defense played a key factor in the victory. Clayton State limited Columbus State to only 36 percent shooting from the field from the game, including only 26 percent in the first half as Clayton State led by as many as 11 points and 28-21 at halftime. However, the Lady Cougars turned it up a notch and put a scare in the Laker armor in the second half. Clayton State twice pushed its lead to 13 points, including 47-34 on a Marie St. Fort free throw with 11:37 remaining. However, Columbus State utilized a 13-2 run over a four minute stretch to trim the Laker lead to only two points. Tamara Petersen drained a 3-point basket as the shot clock expired and a baseline jump shot by Ashley Stafford made the score 52-50 in favor of Clayton State with 5:34 remaining. Five points by Nikkisha Pritchett stretched the Clayton State back to seven points, but again the Lady Cougars fought back. Kayleigh Epps drained a 3-point basket and Stafford scored on a lay-up in the paint with 2:37 remaining. Epps was then fouled with 1:50 remaining and had a chance to tie the game. However, she made only one-of-two, preserving the Lakers’ one-point lead at 57-56. Clayton State again extended its lead, and again Columbus State answered. Epps drained a jump shot to make the score 61-58 with 27 seconds remaining. On the Lakers’ ensuing possession, Stafford stole the inbounds pass and scored on a lay-up with 12 seconds remaining to cut the Clayton State lead to one point. But the Lakers’ Lynette Jackson broke free and caught a long pass from Roberta Phillips and scored an easy lay-up in transition with seven seconds remaining. Columbus State had a final chance to tie and send it to overtime, by Monica Sicka’s 3-point attempt was off as time expired. Pritchett was huge off the bench for Clayton State with 13 points on three 3-point baskets, while Shantel Ragin scored 10 points and Crystal Brown added nine points. For Columbus State (21-11), Stafford scored 14 points, while Epps, Petersen and Cherwonna Walker each scored 10 points. |
