Savannah, Ga.----Clayton State University redshirt senior guard Tweety Hawkins (Madison, Ga.) hit two free throws with 13 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Lakers to a 73-72 NCAA Division II women's basketball victory over Wingate University in the Peach Belt Conference-South Atlantic Conference Challenge in Alumni Arena. Clayton State (2-0 overall) won both of its games in the PBC-SAC Challenge, hosted by Armstrong State University.
 
Clayton State's rally from a seven-point third quarter deficit negated a monster game from Wingate junior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia), who posted career-highs of 29 points, 19 rebounds and four blocked shots with her second career double-double. Bulldog sophomore guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) added 10 points and eight rebounds for Wingate (1-1 overall). The Bulldogs outrebounded the Lakers 53-41.
 
Laker redshirt senior guard Tierra Johnson (Edison, N.J.) led Clayton State with 21 points and four steals. CSU junior guard Jimecheia Banks (Phenix City, Ala.) had 18 points and three assists, while redshirt senior forward/center Andrea Benford (Madison, Ga.) posted 13 points and six rebounds.
 
"Today was a measuring stick of where we need to be in the region," Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock says. "We battled and fought hard. Clayton State does so many things to take you out of what you want to do. They make every possession difficult. I was pleased we beat them on the boards. Marta had a huge game. Hopefully, we can learn and build on this experience."
 
In the extra frame, Wingate led 72-69 with 1:17 left when Bulldog senior guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) hit a jumper on a feed from junior guard Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.). After the two teams traded turnovers, CSU redshirt senior forward Ashley Cunningham (Douglasville, Ga.) hit a lay-up to pull the Lakers within one.
 
On the other end of the floor, Cunningham had the second of her team-high two blocked shots to give the Lakers the basketball. Hawkins was fouled and made both free throws to give her team the victory over the defending SAC tournament champions. The Bulldogs had two field goal attempts to win the game in the waning moments, but could not convert.
 
Wingate led the entire third quarter, taking a 45-38 lead on a bucket by sophomore guard/forward Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) with 3:52 on the game clock. The Bulldogs led 48-44 at the end of three frames, as senior forward Kristina Rumplasch (Mount Airy, N.C.) hit a hoop with 14 seconds left to settle the margin entering the fourth quarter.
 
Miscenko started the fourth quarter with a field goal to make the score 50-44 Wingate at the 9:40 mark. Clayton State responded with an 8-2 run to tie the game 52-52 on a Johnson bucket two minutes later. WU sophomore point guard Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) put the 'Dogs up 57-54 with 5:24 to go.
 
Johnson tied the game 59-59 on an inside hoop with 2:57 left. Miscenko and Johnson traded baskets before Banks drilled a three-point field goal with 1:21 remaining to give the Lakers a 64-61 lead. Clayton State would not score again in regulation as Wingate tied the contest.
 
Bulldog senior guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) hit two free throws with 37 seconds to go to bring Wingate within one point. Johnson missed two free throws on the other end to give the Bulldogs a chance to tie or win. Witherspoon made one-of-two charity tosses to tie the game 64-64 with 12 seconds left.
 
Miscenko got the rebound on Witherspoon's second free throw attempt, but missed a potential game-winning lay-up. In the fight for the rebound, Wingate fouled Clayton State junior forward/center Rayven Thomas (North Las Vegas, Nevada). The CSU post missed both free throws to give the Bulldogs one more chance. Wingate missed a jumper at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
 
In the first half, Miscenko led Wingate with 15 points and seven rebounds. Seven players found the scoring column in the first 20 minutes for the Bulldogs as Wingate shot 54.2 percent from the field (13-of-24). Benford led Clayton State with 11 markers. Five Lakers scored in the first half as CSU converted only 34.1 percent of its first half field goal tries (14-of-41).
 
In the first quarter, Wingate took its first lead at 13-12 on an Averette triple with 2:24 to go. After a CSU hoop, Miscenko hit back-to-back hoops (1:37, 0:58) to give the Bulldogs a 17-14 edge. A free throw by with three seconds left concluded the first quarter scoring.
 
A Miscenko jumper gave Wingate its largest first half lead at 20-14 with 9:35 remaining in the second stanza. Clayton State promptly put together a 10-2 run to take a 24-22 edge on a follow jumper by Cunningham with 5:46 to play. The two teams battled back-and-forth before Moody gave Wingate a 33-32 halftime advantage with her hoop at the 18-second mark.