MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team needed a little time to get its engines started on Wednesday against visiting Armstrong Atlantic. However, when they did, the Lakers never stopped.With four players scoring in double figures, Clayton State made it seven straight victories with a convincing 80-58 victory over Armstrong Atlantic in Peach Belt Conference action at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The victory improves 14th-ranked Clayton State to 13-1 overall and an undefeated 3-0 in the Peach Belt.
Clayton State had one of its more effective offensive games of the season, connecting on 44 percent from the field and a whopping 89 percent from the free throw line. However, it was the patented Laker pressure defense that once again proved to be the difference in the game, especially in the second half.
After Armstrong Atlantic stayed close for much of the first half against the Lakers, Clayton State turned on the boosters in the second half. Ahead 37-25 at halftime, the Lakers opened the half on a 16-0 run to basically put the game away.
Sharon Wiles spearheaded the rally with 10 points, including three lay-ups in transition off Pirate turnovers. Crystal Brown then nailed two free throws, and Tracey Browne’s jump shot at the 15:19 mark gave the Lakers a 53-25 lead.
Clayton State’s largest lead of the game was 32 points on two occasions in the second half. Wiles converted another lay-up off an Armstrong Atlantic turnover to give the Lakers a 65-33 lead with 10:39 remaining. Two minutes later, it Wiles again with a breakaway off a Pirate miscue, this time making the Clayton State lead 69-37 with 8:57 remaining.
Wiles paced Clayton State with 16 points and four steals, while Lynette Jackson recorded a double-double off the bench with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Crystal Brown scored 12 points for the Lakers and Nikkisha Pritchett had a huge game off the bench with 11 points. Of the Lakers’ 80 points, 38 came off the bench.
For Armstrong Atlantic (8-6, 2-1), Kaneetha Gordon scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds.