Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
MORROW, Ga.-The Barton College women's basketball team outscored No. 4 USA TODAY Sports Division II nationally ranked Clayton State University by six points in the second half but the Lady Bulldogs were unable to overcome a dismal first half as the host Lakers notched a 56-46 win in the finale of the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic on Sunday.
Clayton State (9-0 Overall) – ranked second nationally in scoring defense and in the top-10 in field goal percentage defense as of the last DII statistics report – held Barton (4-3) to just 17 points on 6-31 (19.4%) shooting in the first period to construct a 16 point (33-17) halftime advantage.
The Lakers lead grew to as many as 17 (41-24) early in the second half before an 18-8 run by the Lady Bulldogs pulled the visitors to within seven with six minutes left in regulation. A three-pointer by junior Nyeshea Willie finished off the surge that closed the gap to 49-42 but Barton missed six of its final seven shot attempts down the stretch to squander the comeback attempt.
BC was held to season worst totals of 46 points and 28.8% (17-59) shooting accuracy.
Willie paced the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points and has now led Barton in scoring in six of the squads first seven games. Senior forward Shante Neal was BC's only other double digit scorer with 12 points. Senior center Janae Jackson totaled seven points and a team-best eight rebounds.
Senior Kayla Mobley logged a double-double for the Lakers with game-highs of 20 points and 17 rebounds. Junior Shacamra was one board shy of her own double-double, producing 11 points and nine rebounds. Senior Drameka Griggs added 10 points.
CSU finished with a 46-42 edge on the backboards and turned back 10 Barton shots with blocks. The Lakers rank fifth with 6.7 blocks per game. Clayton State shot 31.8% (21-66) from the floor and the Lakers reserves outscored Barton's bench 15-2.
The 2011 national champions scored the contests first seven points en route to the wire-to-wire win. Barton only trailed by six, 21-15, after a Neal layup at the 5:38 mark but the Lakers finished the first half on a 12-2 surge that proved too big a halftime deficit for the Lady Bulldogs to overcome in BC's hopes of winning a fourth consecutive victory unlikely.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play in the New Year and will next entertain league foe King College on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m. as part of a City of Wilson and Wilson County Schools Night doubleheader with the men's team. The Lady Bulldogs are 3-0 in conference action.
