Clayton State Downs Lander 82-73; Advances to Final

FLORENCE, S.C. - Third-seeded Clayton State University used a basket by Kimberly Larry with 4:43 left to regain the lead for the final time Saturday night as the Lady Lakers held on to defeat seventh-seeded Lander University 82-73 in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional tournament in Francis Marion's Smith University Center.

Clayton State, which improves to 20-10 overall, will meet top-seeded Wingate University in the championship game at 7 p.m. Monday. The winner advances to the Elite Eight in Kearney, Neb.

Lander finishes the season at 23-12, its second-best season in the history of the program.

Shantel Ragin led Clayton State with 26 points on 10-of-15 field goals, including 2-of-3 three pointers, and 4-of-5 free throws. Marie St. Fort added 14 points and nine rebounds, Lisa Jackson 13 points, and Dominique Jennings 11 points. Shanrika Hardeman chipped in seven points and eight rebounds.

Lander's LaShonda Chiles, NCAA Division II's all-time career scoring leader, netted a game- and season-high 29 points on 11-of-21 field goals, including 3-of-10 three pointers, and 4-of-7 free throws. Chiles finishes her career with 2,885 points, surpassing the previous NCAA record of 2,810. Senior Tiara Good chipped in 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while freshman Shannon McKever added 12 points.

Clayton State connected on 31-of-62 field goals for 50 percent, including 5-of-17 three pointers for 29.4 percent. The Lady Lakers were 15-of-26 from the free throw line for 57.7 percent.

Lander made 27-of-62 field goals for 43.5 percent, including 6-of-27 three pointers for 22.2 percent. The Lady Bearcats were 13-of-22 from the free throw line for 59.1 percent.

Clayton State, which led 48-40 at halftime because of 22 first-half points from Ragin, opened the second half with two quick baskets by Phillips and St. Fort to stretch its lead to 52-40.

Lander went on a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 54-49 at 14:20 on a pair McKever baskets and a field goal and free throw by Chiles. A three pointer by Chiles cut the Laker lead to 56-53 at 11:46. Then Good tied the game at 59-59 on a rare four-point play when she was fouled after she made a three-pointer and then made the free throw. On the next possession, she drained another three to give the Lady Bearcats a 62-59 lead at 10:13.

Clayton regained the lead at 67-66 on two free throws by Jennings at 7:23.

Lander opened the game on a 4-0 run on field goals by Candi McCall and Chiles. Clayton State tied the game at 4-4 on a field goal by Ragin.

The Lady Bearcat used a 6-0 run to ease out to a 12-7 lead, but the Lady Lakers came right back and tied the game at 16-16 with 11:36 left in the half on a jumper by Lisa Jackson.

Clayton State took its first lead at 19-16 on a three-point shot by Phillips then stretched their lead out to 33-23 on a putback by Hardeman at 7:15.

Lander rallied to cut the lead to 37-34 with 4:05 remaining following two Chiles' field goals and Kianna Smith layup.

But Clayton State jumped back to a 10-point lead - 46-36 - on Ragin's three-point play with 1:58 remaining.

In the first half, Clayton State made 19-of-31 field goals for 61.3 percent, including 5-of-11 three pointers for 45.5 percent. Lander was 16-of-31 from the field for 51.6 percent, including just 2-of-12 from the three-point line for 16.7 percent.

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