FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-28-04

Women's Basketball: Clayton State 84, No. 17 AASU 77

Release Courtesy of CC&SU Sports Information

MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton College & State University women's basketball team upset the nation's 17th-ranked squad Wednesday, and in the process, captured a historic win for head coach A.C. McCullers.

The Clayton State women defeated Peach Belt Conference rival Armstrong Atlantic State University 84-77 Wednesday, only the third time in school history that the program has defeated a nationally ranked team. The win was also a historic one for McCullers, as it was his 700th coaching victory, combing both high school and college wins.

After a competitive first half leaving Clayton State down 36-34, the Lakers connected on their first four field goals of the second half to take a 42-36 advantage with 17:37 remaining in regulation. The Lakers capitalized on Pirate mistakes, as they made 24-of-29 from the line in the second half.

Forcing 12 second half turnovers by the Pirates, the Lakers were able to convert many of these into fast-break baskets. The Lakers also took their shooting up a notch in the second half, hitting 48 percent (12-of-25) from the field and 83 percent (24-of-29) at the line.

Juniors Brandi Catia, (Jacksonville, FL) and Jamika Hindsman (East Point, GA) and sophomore Cynthia (Fort de France, Martinique) led the offensive attack in the second half, as the trio combined to hit 9-of-11 shots from the field. Junior April Taylor (Memphis, TN) pulled down seven second half rebounds.

Catia led the Lakers with 19 points, followed by Hindsman and Conseil each with 13. Junior Myeshia Choice (Thomasville, GA), whose pull-up jumper at 14:50 gave CCSU their largest lead at 49-38 added 11 points. Sophomore Carlie Anderson (Hokes Bluff, AL) chipped in 10 points.

Senior Tasha Washington (Phoenix, AZ) led Armstrong Atlantic with a game-high 24 points, followed by senior Vandy Noldon (Wasco, CA) with 18 points. Freshman Kaneetha Gordon (Savannah, GA) had a team high seven rebounds for the Pirates.

The loss drops Armstrong to 14-4 on the year and 5-2 in the Peach Belt, and the win takes CCSU to 9-9 on the year and 1-6 in the Peach Belt. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 5:30 p.m. game.

-Pirates-