Box Score by Kevin Buczek
MORROW, Ga.-Senior guard Jannetta Robinson scored a season-high 16 points but No. 6 nationally ranked Clayton State University closed Saturday's Southeast Region showdown with a 14-3 run to rally past visiting Barton College 60-49 in a rematch of last season's NCAA Division II National Tournament second round game.
The 2011 NCAA DII National Champion Lakers (6-1) held Barton without a point in the final four minutes to hold on for its 24th consecutive win at home. All three of the Lady Bulldogs (4-3) losses have come against nationally ranked opposition.
Barton – who held a 38-37 halftime lead on the national champs in last year's big dance – once again found itself leading the perennial power in the second half Saturday.
After Clayton State scored the first basket in the second stanza, the Lady Bulldogs ran ahead with a 7-0 surge in 90 second span. Junior Shante Neal sparked the rally with a made layup; sophomore Nyeshea Willie followed with a drilled three-pointer; and Robinson put Barton in front 31-30 with her own made lay-in with 17:10 left.
Kayla Mobley scored on ensuing possession as the Lakers regained the lead for good. Barton kept fighting and pulled within two points on three separate occasions. A pair of made free throws by Willie closed the gap to two points for the last time, 46-44, as the clock ticked inside seven minutes. Clayton State followed with a 10-2 assault capped by a Keona Dixon three-pointer to pull ahead by 10 (56-46).
Willie had Barton's only points during the decisive CSU run with a made layup at the 4:47 mark, which proved to be the Bulldogs only made field goal in the final eight minutes of the game.
Barton shot 42.3-percent in the first half while holding Clayton State to 30.8% in the first 20 minutes but the Bulldogs cooled off to 25.9% in the second half including just 1-of-10 shooting in the final eight minutes.
The Lakers dominated the battle of the boards, 46-38, including a game-high 17 rebounds from 6-foot-1 center Shacamra Jackson. CSU outscored BC 21-9 on second chance points with 23 offensive rebounds. The Lakers also did a better job protecting the ball with five less turnovers, 22-17, that led to a 26-14 edge in points off miscues.
Dixon had a team-high 15 points for Clayton State including a game-high three 3-pointers. Tanisha Woodard provided 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Jackson completed a double-double with 10 points.
Robinson was 8-for-12 from the floor en route to her season-high 16 points but was held to just four points in the second half. Willie totaled 15 points that featured a perfect 8-for-8 performance from the charity stripe. Willie just missed her first double-double of the campaign with a season-best nine rebounds. Neal and junior Janae Jackson had six points apiece for a Barton squad that only had seven Bulldogs see court time Saturday.
A Robinson hoop with 73 seconds left in the first half tied score for the second and final time but Clayton State scored the final two baskets of the period including a last-second layup by Brittany Hall to take a 28-24 lead at halftime.
Barton will try and bounce back at Chowan University (Murfreesboro, N.C.) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs defeated the Hawks 72-69 on Nov. 22.
