March 22, 2007

Clayton State Edges Commerce

Back and Forth Game Goes to Lakers

      Kearney, Neb. –  The third quarter final game of the NCAA Division II Women’s Elite matched Texas A&M – Commerce versus Clayton State U. of Georgia

      The Lakers of CSU topped the TAMCU Lions by 60-55 score.  Sixteenth-ranked Clayton State, from the South Atlantic Region, improves to 29-6, while TAMCU ends its season at 28-9.

     This was a national quarterfinal game of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships.  The Elite 8 tournament is being held at the Health and Sports Center at the University of Nebraska – Kearney.

      In a contest that was played at a very fast pace, there were nine ties and eight lead changes. Clayton came out on a top thanks to a 12-6 run to end the game.

      TAMCU played an aggressive offensive style all night long, launching 30 three point shots. However, only four made it through the basket.  

      Despite 32 percent shooting (22 of 69), Commerce stayed in the game by dominating the glass, out rebounding CSU 49-33. That included a staggering 25-10 margin in offensive caroms.

      Senior post Tradawn Short led the Lions by going 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line in the first half.

      Clayton State led much of the first half, getting out to a lead as big as nine points. CSU would lead 29-28 at the break and then didn't lead by more then six points in the second half.

      The second half saw a back and forth game between the two teams.  However, TAMCU couldn't seem to find the bottom of net very often, whether it be from long range or on put back attempts.

       “I thought they fell in love with the three ball a little bit,” said Clayton State Head Coach Dennis Cox.

      With the nation's leading three point shooter, Kanani Marshall, having an off night (3 of 16; 3 of 15 threes), Commerce relied on Short (team-high 18 points) and Brittney Jordan (12 points) to stay in the game. 

      Meanwhile, Clayton State had begun to find its rhythm by the second half.  

      “We all stepped up and made some big plays the second half.  Nikkisha Pritchett knocked down a three and I think that all calmed us down a little bit,” said Cox.

      With her team down 49-48,  Marie St. Fort gave CSU the lead back with a shot at the 6:16 mark.

      Both teams would have trouble scoring the rest of the way and then Marshall went down with a serious arm injury with CSU leading 54-51 with 2:37 left. Clayton took advantage of the loss of Marshall to push its lead to six points with 37 seconds left in the game, 58-52.

      The Lakers was at 43 percent from the field (23 of 54) with reserves Pritchett (12) and post Lynette Jackson (10 points, eight rebounds, four blocks) having strong games.

       A deep CSU team saw starter Crystal Brown have a team-high 15 points of 6 of 12 shooting.

       Commerce, representing the South Central Region, was led by Short (18 points, five rebounds) and Jordan (12 points, three assists, three steals). Marshall did get close to a triple double before leaving; nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

         CSU will advance to the semi-finals on Thursday to face top-ranked Florida Gulf Coast at 9:30 p.m. The game will be aired live by ESPNU.