Box Score MORROW, GA – Despite a career-high equaling 22 points from senior Tiara Gause, Francis Marion University could not reverse the effects of a 13-0 run by fourth-ranked and unbeaten Clayton State University late in the first half and the Patriots came up on the short end of an 80-66 decision, Monday evening (Jan. 21) in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball action.
The Patriots (7-7, 2-6) will conclude their tough three-game conference road swing with a Saturday night (5:30 p.m.) game at third-ranked USC Aiken.
Gause connected on 10-of-16 shots from the floor and also recorded three steals. Her previous 22-point effort came as a member of the Elon University squad against Davidson College on Feb. 7, 2009.
Senior forward Jasmine Williams-Hayes added 10 points, five rebounds, and three steals for FMU, while Kristen Dickerson and Briana Robinson each chipped in eight points. Robinson also handed out five assists.
Drameka Griggs came of the Clayton State bench to tally 32 points, seven rebounds, and four steals in 36 minutes of action. She was 12-of-21 from the floor, including 2-of-2 from behind the three-point line, and 6-of-6 at the foul line. Fellow Laker reserve Kayla Mobley registered a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Early in the first half, Clayton State (16-0, 9-0) snapped a 9-9 deadlock with a 10-1 run. The Patriots then responded with an 11-0 spurt – six points from Gause and five from Dee Gray – to take a 21-19 advantage.
The Lakers then rattled off seven consecutive points to lead 26-21. A jumper by Williams-Hayes pulled FMU to within 28-25 with 7:45 left before halftime, but the Lakers produced the decisive 13-0 spurt to take a 16-point lead.
After leading 46-33 at intermission, the Lakers gradually increased the margin to 27 points, at 76-49, with 7:22 remaining in the game. Led by nine points from Gause, FMU scored 13 straight points to trim the deficit to 14 (76-62) with 4:04 left, but the Patriots could get no closer.
Francis Marion shot 47.4 percent from the floor, including 2-of-7 on three-point attempts, and was 10-of-18 at the charity stripe. Clayton State connected on 42.3 percent of its shots, was 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, and hit 17-of-21 free throws.
Although the Patriots forced one more turnover than they committed (24-23), Francis Marion trailed in points-off-turnovers 33-21. FMU was also outrebounded 48-28 and recorded only five second-chance points compared to Clayton State's 24.
1/23/13 5:30 pm at Morrow, GA
#4 CLAYTON STATE 80, FRANCIS MARION 66
FRANCIS MARION (7-7; 2-6)
Tiara Gause 10-16 2-4 22; Jas. Williams-Hayes 5-7 0-1 10; Briana Robinson
2-6 3-4 8; Kristen Dickerson 4-10 0-1 8; Dee Gray 2-5 1-2 6; Camille Dash
2-6 2-2 6; Kim Roach 2-4 1-2 5; DeAsia Toney 0-0 1-2 1; Erin Pinkett 0-3 0-0
0. Totals 27-57 10-18 66.
CLAYTON STATE (16-0; 9-0)
Drameka Griggs 12-21 6-6 32; Kayla Mobley 6-11 5-6 17; Shacamra Jackson 4-7
2-2 10; Bena Hanyard 3-9 2-2 9; Shannon Smith 2-6 2-4 6; Arkia Armstrong 2-6
0-0 4; Kayla Pryce 1-4 0-1 2; Auburn Randolph 0-0 0-0 0; Keona Dixon 0-1 0-0
0; Jessica Covington 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 30-71 17-21 80.
Halftime: Clayton State 46 Francis Marion 33
3-point goals--Francis Marion 2-7 (Briana Robinson 1-2; Dee Gray 1-2;
Camille Dash 0-1; Erin Pinkett 0-2), Clayton State 3-11 (Drameka Griggs 2-2;
Bena Hanyard 1-4; Shacamra Jackson 0-1; Shannon Smith 0-1; Arkia Armstrong
0-1; Kayla Pryce 0-1; Kayla Mobley 0-1). Fouled out--Francis Marion-None,
Clayton State-Bena Hanyard. Rebounds--Francis Marion 28 (Kim Roach 7),
Clayton State 48 (Kayla Mobley 12). Assists--Francis Marion 17 (Briana
Robinson 5), Clayton State 16 (Drameka Griggs 3; Kayla Pryce 3; Kayla Mobley
3). Total fouls--Francis Marion 20, Clayton State 17. Technical fouls--None. A-180
