Wingate Rallies Past Clayton State 82-72 in NCAA Region Final

FLORENCE, SC – Junior point guard Anna Atkinson orchestrated a 19-2 run late in the second half as top-seeded Wingate University rallied for an 82-72 win over third-seeded Clayton State University, Monday evening (March 17) in the championship game of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball South Atlantic Regional Tournament. The regional was hosted by Francis Marion University.

The victory places Wingate (26-7) into the Elite Eight, which will take place March 26, 27, and 29 in Kearney, Neb. Clayton State, which won the regional title last year and advanced to the 2007 Final Four, ends its season at 20-11.

Atkinson was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as she tallied 12 points, 12 assists, and two steals while committing only one turnover in 39 minutes against the Lakers. Senior Kate Edwards paced Wingate with 22 points, including 6-of-10 from beyond the three-point arc, while grabbing eight rebounds. Forward Stefani Shuey added 17 points and six rebounds.

Junior guard Marie St. Fort led Clayton State with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Lisa Jackson scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Shanrika Hardeman recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds, while senior Shantel Ragin added 13 points and eight assists.

Edwards, Ragin, Jackson, and Lander University’s Stephanie Ponds joined Atkinson on the All-Tournament Team.

The tightly contested first half saw 12 lead changes and six times, with four points being the largest margin for either squad. Clayton State left for the locker room holding a 35-34 advantage.

In the second stanza, a three-pointer by St. Fort gave the Lakers a 55-47 lead with 10:41 left. However, Clayton State would hit only one field goal over the next five minutes as Wingate went on its game deciding run.

Atkinson had five points and assisted on four of the other five baskets during the streak. Edwards contributed two three-pointers to the run that produced a 66-57 Wingate lead with 5:52 remaining.

A layup by St. Fort with brought Clayton State to within 69-64 with 4:11 on the clock, but Wingate responded with an 11-0 spurt – as the Lakers missed eight straight shots – to go up 80-64.

“We have been a team of runs all year – those we have suffered through and those we have gone on,” said first-year Wingate head coach Barbara Nelson. “We talked about that fact in our morning meeting. I was a little worried when we were down eight, especially since we have not shot the ball well in this building. But then Kate (Edwards) got open for a couple of threes. All year our offense has gone through Anna (Atkinson) as it did tonight.”

“We got beaten by a very good team that played very poised,” said Clayton State head coach Dennis Cox. “We had things going our way in the second half, and then they went on a big run. They knocked down some threes against our zone, and I thought we broke down somewhat defensively.

“I also thought we panicked a little. Maybe we were little emotionally spent and our lack of depth may have finally caught up to us.”