Back in style! Clayton State women rout visiting Elizabeth City State 92-54
Ragin scores career-high 21 points as 20th-ranked Clayton State improves to 9-1 overall

MORROW, Ga. — DECEMBER 29, 2006 — The 13 days off between games for the holiday break had little effect on the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team. In fact, it charged them up for the long run.

With four players reaching double-figures in scoring, the Lakers returned from the holiday break on style on Friday, routing visiting Elizabeth City State 92-54 in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The victory is the third straight for 20th-ranked Clayton State, which improves to 9-1 overall.

The 38-point rout was the largest margin of victory for Clayton since last season’s 88-49 rout over Bowie State.

Clayton State took control early and was never really challenged by Elizabeth City State, which came into the game on a six-game winning streak. The Lakers went on an early 8-0 run as Nikkisha Pritchett’s 3-point basket gave Clayton State a 21-8 lead with 13:51 remaining.

The Lakers increased the lead to 21 points, 37-16 on Shantel Ragin’s lay-up with 6:54 remaining. The largest Clayton State lead in the first half was 24 points twice, including 46-22 on two Ragin free throws with 48 seconds remaining in the half. The Lakers forced 21 first half Lady Viking turnovers and limited Elizabeth City State to only nine first half field goals.

The intensity strengthened in the second half as Clayton State didn’t let Elizabeth City State get within 18 points. Roberta Phillips ignited a 12-2 Laker run with a 3-point basket at the 7:15 mark to give Clayton State a 74-47 lead. Ragin’s 3-point play ended the rally and increased the Laker lead to 83-49 with 5:20 remaining.

Kim Lloyd’s 3-point basket with 52 seconds remaining gave the Lakers their largest lead of the game, 92-51.

Ragin scored a career-high 21 points for Clayton State on 9-for-12 shooting from the field. Marie St. Fort scored 16 points off the bench with four 3-point baskets, followed by Phillips with 13 points and Sharon Wiles added 12 points. For the game, Clayton State’s suffocating full-court pressure defense produced 36 Elizabeth City State turnovers, and the Lakers held the Lady Vikings to only 30 percent shooting from the field.

For Elizabeth City State (6-3), All-American center Celeste Trahan recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Tiffany Smith scored 12 points for the Lady Vikings.

Clayton State plays its final non-conference game of the season on Sunday, playing host to in-state rival West Georgia in Heritage Bank Holiday Classic at 1 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.