Laker women advance three spots to 17th in new
USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coach’s Poll
Highest national ranking in program history for 10-1 Clayton State

MORROW, Ga. — JANUARY 2, 2007 — The USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coach’s poll for women’s basketball was released on Tuesday, and the Clayton State Lakers made their biggest jump yet on the season.

The Lakers moved up three spots to 17th in the new poll, marking the largest national ranking ever for a Clayton State women’s team. Clayton State advanced after two teams ranked ahead of it in the previous both lost at least one game. Fort Valley State, which was previously ranked 19th, lost twice, and Wingate, previously ranked 18th, split two games.

Clayton State finished off its non-conference schedule with two victories over the weekend in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic. The Lakers routed Elizabeth City State 92-54 on Friday, followed by a heart-pounding 48-45 squeaker over West Georgia on Sunday. The 10-1 start to the 2006-07 season is the second-best start to a season for a Clayton State women’s team.

Clayton State opens Peach Belt Conference schedule on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at conference newcomer Georgia Southwestern.