MORROW, Ga. | Clayton State University won a defensive battle over Young Harris College 51-40 in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Saturday (Feb. 20) afternoon at the Athletics and Fitness Center.
                      
The Lakers improved to 21-4 overall and remained in a tie for first place in the PBC West Division at 15-3. The Mountain Lions fell to 10-15 and 5-13. Young Harris returns to action as they close out their season Wednesday (Feb. 24) when they host the University of Montevallo on Senior Day at the YHC Basketball Arena.
 
Baskets were hard to come by in the game as neither team shot the ball well. Clayton State hit 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the floor while the Mountain Lions were held to 27.6 percent (16-of-58). Young Harris forced the Lakers into 23 turnovers, but Clayton State lead a 55-33 advantage on the boards.
 
"We defended really well today," said Young Harris head coach Matt Stearsman. "That is something I know these ladies are going to do. We struggled on the glass and we struggled from the three. Even as bad as we rebounded, if a couple shots go down we are right there. We played hard but it was just a struggle offensively for us."
 
Clayton State took an 11-3 lead on an Andrea Benford layup with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Young Harris closed to within two points twice in the second quarter, the last time at 19-17 after an offensive stick back by Jenny Vernet with 4:20 to go, but the Lakers closed out the period on a 9-2 run to take a 28-19 lead at the half.
 
Clayton State opened its largest lead at 42-26 on two Shay Upshaw free throws with 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The Mountain Lions couldn't get any closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
 
Benford led the Lakers with 11 points and 14 rebounds while Vernet had 11 points and eight rebounds for Young Harris. Meredith Tarver added nine points and six rebounds for the Mountain Lions, while Keta Robinette and Briana Bell tossed in seven points apiece.