Morrow, Ga.----Clayton State University junior guard Drameka Griggs (Ellenwood, Ga.) netted a career-high 28 points as the Lakers survived Wingate University 76-60 in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The NCAA Division II women’s basketball victory was the eighth straight for number five Clayton State (12-1 overall). The CSU Lakers tie the Peach Belt Conference record with their 26th consecutive home victory. South Atlantic Conference member Wingate is 6-3 overall.

Griggs scored 21 of her points in the second half as she fueled the Lakers on two key flurries. Her jump shot at the 14:43 mark sparked a 17-0 Clayton State run. She followed with two straight transition lay-ups and another inside hoop at the 11:51 plateau which gave the Lakers a 54-37 lead.

There was no quit in Wingate. The Bulldogs answered the challenge with an 11-2 run as sophomore guard Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) and senior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) drilled back-to-back three-point baskets. Two free throws by Washington trimmed the Clayton State lead to 58-51 with 6:46 remaining. Washington led visiting Wingate with 12 points Friday night.

The Bulldogs weren’t finished. A lay-up by sophomore forward Chantal Dunbar (Norfolk, Va.) trimmed the Laker lead to 60-56 at the 5:18 mark. Wingate would get no closer down the stretch.

Clayton State countered with two transition lay-ups by Griggs and a jump shot by Griggs to increase the its margin to 70-56 with 1:52 remaining. During the last five minutes of the contest, Griggs contributed 12 of the Lakers’ final 16 points.          

Laker senior forward/guard Tanisha Woodard (Rome, Ga.) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, while CSU senior guard Brittany Hall (Smyrna, Ga.) also scored 12 points. Woodard scored nine of her points in the first half as the Lakers built a 31-23 at intermission. Sophomore center Shacamra Jackson (Marietta, Ga.) added 10 points. For the game, Clayton State shot 48.3 percent from the field (29-of-60) and 78.6 percent from the free throw line (11-of-14).

Burton and sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) contributed nine points each for Wingate. The Bulldogs were effective at the free throw line, shooting 88 percent (22-for-25). Washington hit eight-of-eight charity tosses. Wingate shot 32.7 percent from the floor (17-of-52). The CSU Lakers converted 29 Bulldog turnovers into 39 points. The Clayton State bench notched 37 points to 21 markers for the Wingate reserves.

The Bulldogs visit NCAA Division I the College of Charleston Monday night at 7 p.m. Wingate returns to SAC play Wednesday, entertaining Catawba for a 6 p.m. contest. Clayton State plays host to North Georgia at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Athletics and Fitness Center. 

(Thank you to Clayton State University SID Lee Wright for providing information for this story.)

Newspaper Box Score
Wingate vs #5 Clayton State
12/30/11 5:30 p.m. at Morrow, Ga.

#5 CLAYTON STATE WOMEN 76, WINGATE 60
WINGATE (6-3 overall)
Washington, Kurie 2-10 8-8 12; Burton, Nikki 3-11 2-3 9; Williams, Janitsha 3-6 2-2 9; Brown, Tiffany 2-4 3-4 8; Dunbar, Chantal 2-6 2-2 6; Wollett, Sarah 2-4 2-3 6; Morton, Sequoia 1-2 2-2 4; Montgomery, Jade 1-1 0-0 3; Rutledge, Simone 1-2 1-1 3; Burnick, Sarah 0-0 0-0 0; Boston, Brooklyn 0-1 0-0 0; DeBerry, Jasmine 0-0 0-0 0; Logan, Tish 0-4 0-0 0; Thompson, Jakari 0-0 0-0 0; Bonner, Kelli 0-1 0-0 0; Anderson, Jecia 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-52 22-25 60.
#5 CLAYTON STATE (12-1 overall)
Griggs, Drameka 10-15 7-8 28; Woodard, Tanisha 4-7 1-2 12; Hall, Brittany 5-13 2-2 12; Jackson, Shacamra 4-7 1-2 10; Howard, Brandice 3-5 0-0 6; Kelly, Genesis 1-5 0-0 3; Dixon, Keona 1-3 0-0 3; Mobley, Kayla 1-1 0-0 2; Smith, Shannon 0-3 0-0 0; Covington, Jessica 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 11-14 76.
Wingate.......................   23   37  -   60
#5 Clayton State..............   31   45  -   76
3-point goals--Wingate 4-15 (Williams, Janitsha 1-2; Burton, Nikki 1-5; Montgomery, Jade 1-1; Brown, Tiffany 1-1; Bonner, Kelli 0-1; Wollett, Sarah 0-1; Washington, Kurie 0-4), Clayton State 7-21 (Woodard, Tanisha 3-5; Kelly, Genesis 1-3; Jackson, Shacamra 1-1; Griggs, Drameka 1-2; Dixon, Keona 1-3; Howard, Brandice 0-2; Hall, Brittany 0-5). Fouled out--Wingate-None, Clayton State-None. Rebounds--Wingate 37 (Dunbar, Chantal 9), Clayton State 30 (Woodard, Tanisha 6). Assists--Wingate 9 (Burton, Nikki 2; Rutledge, Simone 2; Wollett, Sarah 2), Clayton State 21 (Woodard, Tanisha 10). Total fouls--Wingate 14, Clayton State 19. Technical fouls--Wingate-None, Clayton State-None. A-204
2011 Heritage Bank Holiday Classic (CSU Athletics & Fitness Center)
CSU is #5 team in USA TODAY/ESPN Division II top 25 coaches' poll
Wingate visits NCAA D-I Coll. of Charleston Mon., Jan. 2 (7 p.m.)