Saturday, February 17, 2007

NORTH GEORGIA UPSETS CLAYTON STATE
North Division title within grasp, Lady Saints even record

Dahlonega, GA – Kourtney Singleton continued her late game magic Saturday afternoon, this time turning the tide on the 19th-ranked Ranked Clayton State Lakers. 

Following a missed free throw by Syretha Marble with 42 seconds remaining, Singleton climbed the ladder and took a rebound away from 6-2 Alecia Humphrey.  She immediately went back up and hit the lay-up, sealing the Lady Saints 76-74 upset of Clayton State here Saturday afternoon.

The win kept the Lady Saints chances of winning the North Division alive, and spoiled the Lakers chances of taking a two-game lead over Columbus State in the South Division.

North Georgia exploded in the first nine minutes of the contest, building a 22-13 advantage thanks to shooting 63.6 percent from the floor and 75 percent from behind the arc. Unfortunately Clayton State caught fire in the second half and took a five-point lead with 4:39 remaining.

That is when Marble stepped in the passing lane and stole an errant pass from Marie St. Fort.  After the steal, Marble went coast-to-coast for the easy lay-up, trimming the lead to 61-60 with 4:14 remaining.  That basket was part of a 9-2 run that gave North Georgia a 65-61 lead with 2:53 remaining in the contest.

The Lakers would battle back, eventually taking the lead before junior guard Megan Huffman converted two free throws to put North Georgia ahead 67-66 with 1:25 remaining in the contest.  Clayton State would tie the game with 1:10 on an Alecia Humphrey free throw.  The Lady Saints took a one-point lead on a Marble free throw with 42 seconds remaining, before Singleton’s putback made the score 70-67.

Following a missed three-point attempt by Marie St. Fort, Marble rebounded the ball and gave it to Huffman who was fouled.  She would hit both free throws with 19 seconds to go to give North Georgia a 72-67 lead.  The lead would stay there until St. Fort hit one-of-two free throws to trim the lead to 72-68.

Singleton gave the Lady Saints a six-point advantage at 74-68 with 11 seconds remaining on two free throws.  The Lakers did not quit, however, drilling a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 74-71. But the Lady Saints sealed the game at the free throw line when Huffman hit two more to give the Lady Saints a 76-71 lead with just four seconds remaining. 

Clayton State accounted for the final margin when Kim Lloyd hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

North Georgia shot 51 (25-for-49) percent from the floor and 50 (5-for-10) percent from behind the arc in the victory.  They also shot 70 (21-for-30) percent from the free throw line.

Clayton State shot 43.3 (26-for-60) percent from the floor, and 35 (7-for-20) percent from behind the arc. 

Nikkisha Pritchett led Clayton State (20-5, 10-4 PBC) with 17 points off the bench.  St. Fort added 13 in the loss.

North Georgia (12-12, 7-7 PBC) was led by Marble with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman Porsha White added 18 points, while Singleton added 14 and Huffman 11 in the win.

North Georgia returns to action Wednesday, traveling to USC Aiken.

-NGCSU-

Box Score

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