Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----The 15th-ranked Clayton State University Lakers rallied back from a 16-point deficit to defeat Wingate University 69-65 on day one of the 2009 OrthoCarolina Classic Friday night in Cuddy Arena. The Lakers improve to 6-1 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 5-4 on the year.

Junior forward Teshymia Tillman (High Point, N.C.) led the Clayton State attack with 16 points and five steals. Junior guard Genesis Kelly (Fort Pierce, Fla.) and sophomore guard Brittany Hall (Smyrna, Ga.) added 12 points each for the Lakers, while sophomore forward Tanisha Woodard (Rome, Ga.) contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, five steals and four blocks.

Sophomore guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) led the Wingate attack with a season-high 28 points, knocking down four-of-five shots from beyond the arc and all 10 free throws on the night. Junior center Erica Crumlin (Irmo, S.C.) added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs, while junior forward CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) chipped in with five points and five assists.

Wingate used a 14-2 first half run to take a 31-15 lead at the 7:08 mark. Brooks got it started with a jumper, while freshman guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) capped it with a three. The Lakers had the answer, scoring the next 12 points to cut the lead to four at the 3:52 mark. Kelly had four points in the spurt, while Woodard capped in with a steal and layup.

The Bulldogs closed the half on a 13-4 run to take a 44-31 lead at halftime. Washington had seven points in the spurt, including a three at the buzzer to push the lead back to 13. Wingate shot 56.5 percent from the field in the first half, while hitting on four-of-five shots from beyond the arc and all 14 free throws.

A 7-0 Clayton State run trimmed the Wingate lead to 53-50 seven minutes into the second half. A Washington jumper pushed the lead back to five. The Lakers answered with an 11-3 run, taking their first lead of the game at the 8:04 mark on a three pointer from Tillman.

Wingate trimmed the lead back to one on a Crumlin jumper with just under six minutes remaining. Clayton State got a three from Woodard to take a 66-60 lead at the four minute mark. The Lakers took their largest lead of the night on a three from Kelly with two minutes remaining to make it 69-62. Washington answered with a three to cut the lead to four, but Wingate would get no closer.

Clayton State shot 40.3 percent from the floor for the night, while hitting six-of-17 shots from three point range (35.3 percent). The Lakers racked up 19 steals on the night, scoring 24 fast break points compared to Wingate’s seven. The Bulldogs shot 39.6 percent from the field on the night, while knocking down seven-of-13 shots from beyond the arc (53.8 percent). Wingate had 10 steals, while forcing 26 Clayton State turnovers. The Lakers held a 46-34 rebounding edge, while pulling down 21 offensive rebounds compared to Wingate’s eight.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting #17 Francis Marion at 1:30 p.m. Clayton State will take on Tusculum College at 3:30 p.m. in Cuddy Arena.