MORROW, Ga. - It was a rematch of last year's first round NCAA Division II National Tournament game between Clayton State and Newberry, and just like last year, the Lakers came out victorious. Clayton State held off a late Newberry run to capture an important South Atlantic Region victory, defeating the Lady Indians, 74-63, at the Athletics & Fitness Center in the finals of the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic.
The Lakers led by as many as 22 points, 49-27, with 16:45 remaining in the contest on a jumper by Jasmine Patterson but had to fend off the Lady Indians, as they stormed back into the contest in the final 10 minutes of the game.
The loss ends Newberry's seven-game winning streak and places the season record at 7-4. Newberry will resume play Tuesday night at Erskine. Clayton State improves to 9-1 and holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series.
CSU led by 19 points, 55-36 with 13:51 remaining before Newberry went on a 14-7 run over a four-minute stretch to cut the Laker deficit to eight points, 58-50, with 9:54 remaining. The Lady Indians' Tonique Frasier (Walterboro, S.C.) capped the run with a three-point play.
A three-pointer by Patterson pushed the Laker lead to 12 points, 67-55, with 4:03 remaining but once again Newberry answered. After both teams swapped baskets for the next three minutes, the Lady Indians cut the lead to seven points, 68-61, with 55 seconds remaining on a basket by Tygress Hope (Hephzibah, Ga.).
Clayton State sealed the victory in the final minute, hitting 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Tournament Most Valuable Player Shelcey Harp hit four, while fellow All-Tournament selection Patterson hit two.
In the first half, Clayton State led by 20 points with 50 seconds remaining on a basket by Alecia Humphrey but Laura Marquardt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) drained a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the period to draw to 39-22 at intermission. Newberry shot under 26% in the first period, along with an abysmal 7-of-16 performance from the foul line.
Frasier, who was also named to the All-Tournament squad, finished with a season-high 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals. All-Tournament player Ashlee Wright (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) chipped in nine points and had five assists, while Tonya Deese (Newberry, S.C.) finished with eight points and nine boards.
Harp finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Sharon Wiles also had 16 points to go along with eight boards and five steals. Patterson finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Crystal Brown also had 12 points and seven rebounds.
Newberry shot better from the field than the Lakers, hitting 40 percent (23-of-58) from the floor compared to 35 percent (26-of-74) for Clayton State, but the Lakers took advantage of 16 more shot opportunities, thanks in part to Newberry's 27 turnovers.
