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FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University outscored the nation's fifth-ranked team by double-figures over the final 20 minutes, but it was not enough to recover from a large halftime deficit as Clayton State University held on for a 68-56 Peach Belt Conference win, Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) in women's basketball action.

The Patriots drop their second straight home contest and fall to 5-6 overall and 1-4 in the PBC.  Clayton State wins its 12th consecutive game as the defending NCAA Division II national champs improve to 15-1 and 5-0.

Junior forward Daphne Walker came off the bench to lead Francis Marion with 11 points, while sophomore guard Brittany Christian added nine points. Senior center T.T. Belcher scored eight points and hauled down a team-high eight rebounds, while junior point guard Carmella Thompson registered eight points and four assists.

Seniors Tanisha Woodard and Brittany Hall led the Lakers with 13 points apiece, while reserve guard Keona Dixon added 11 points.

Clayton State scored the first five points of the game and never trailed. Leading 5-3, the Lakers exploded with a 27-6 spurt to take a 32-9 advantage.  To that point, Clayton State was 14-of-25 from the field, while FMU was only 3-of-13 with 14 turnovers.

Francis Marion closed the margin slightly to 41-18 at halftime.

In the second stanza, Clayton State took its largest lead of 32 points at 60-28 following a three-pointer by Dixon with 12:32 left.  FMU then outscored the Lakers 28-8 to finish the contest.  The Patriots held Clayton State scoreless over the final four minutes as the Lakers missed two shots and committed six turnovers.

During the final half, Francis Marion connected on 51.9 percent of its shots, while holding the Lakers to only 33.3 percent.  Clayton State also hit only two of its 16 three-point attempts over the final 20 minutes.

Francis Marion will conclude its four-game homestand on Monday night when the Patriots entertain the University of Montevallo at 5:30 p.m.

1-7-12 1:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
#5 CLAYTON STATE UNIV. 68, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 56

CLAYTON STATE UNIV. (#5 15-1 , 5-0)
Tanisha Woodard 6-9 0-0 13; Brittany Hall 6-10 0-0 13; Keona Dixon 4-11 0-0
11; Genesis Kelly 3-9 2-2 10; Drameka Griggs 3-6 3-3 9; Shacamra Jackson 4-4
0-0 8; Kayla Mobley 2-5 0-0 4; Shadawn Clanton 0-1 0-0 0; Brandice Howard
0-1 0-0 0; Alexiss Griffin 0-2 0-0 0; Shannon Smith 0-5 0-1 0; Jessica
Covington 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-64 5-6 68.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (5-6 , 1-4 PBC)
Daphne Walker 4-9 3-6 11; Brittany Christian 3-11 1-4 9; T.T. Belcher 2-3
4-5 8; Carmella Thompson 3-7 2-6 8; Kristen Dickerson 3-7 0-0 6; Emilee
Dunton 2-3 0-0 6; Chelsey Johnson 2-4 0-0 4; Danielle Gibson 1-2 0-0 2;
Simone Trice 0-1 2-2 2; Hattie Harris 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 12-23 56.
Halftime: Clayton State 41 Francis Marion 18
3-point goals--Clayton State Univ. 7-25 (Keona Dixon 3-9; Genesis Kelly 2-5;
Tanisha Woodard 1-3; Brittany Hall 1-2; Shadawn Clanton 0-1; Alexiss Griffin
0-1; Jessica Covington 0-1; Kayla Mobley 0-2; Drameka Griggs 0-1), Francis
Marion University 4-12 (Emilee Dunton 2-2; Brittany Christian 2-8; Carmella
Thompson 0-2). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Clayton State 41 (Shannon Smith 8), Francis Marion 30 (T.T. Belcher 8). Assists--Clayton State Univ. 16
(Tanisha Woodard 4), Francis Marion University 9 (Carmella Thompson 4).
Total fouls--Clayton State 18, Francis Marion 14. Technical fouls--None. A-100