MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State used four straight 3 point buckets to take 16-point lead before the half, and were able to hold off the UNCP women's basketball team en route to remaining the only undefeated team in the Peach Belt Conference on Saturday afternoon at the Athletics & Fitness Center. 

The setback handed the Lady Braves (8-9, 2-6 PBC) their second straight loss in conference action. Clayton State (15-0, 8-0) recorded its 8th-straight victory in the all-time series, while the Lady Lakers remain perfect on the season. 

Senior Courtney Bolton came off the bench and scored 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and a flawless 4-of-4 from the free throw line to pace the Lady Braves, who also got eight points apiece from Chandrica Fuller and Jasmine Hairston. Kayla Mobley led the hosts, as she recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, the Lady Lakers also got 12 points from Bena Hanyard. 

The Clayton State defense proved why it is nationally-ranked, allowing UNCP to connect on just 2-of-12 (16.7%) from behind the arch. The Lady Lakers pulled down 42 rebounds, compared to just 28 from the Lady Braves. UNCP and Clayton State garnered 12 steals apiece, while the hosts tallied seven blocked shots. 

"We couldn't handle the defensive pressure, we weren't strong enough with the ball and we weren't getting people to the right places. Without Wayne Mack we were short a ball handler, and that didn't help. They turned up the defensive pressure and we did a poor job attacking," said UNCP head coach John Haskins. "We did some decent things, it was nice to get Bolton in there, she was productive, and Fuller did a good job at the free throw line. They're a really good team and put a lot of pressure, you've got to give them credit."

Clayton State improved its 16-point halftime lead to a 27-point advantage, 53-26, just five minutes into the second half after a 13-2 opening run. The Lady Braves scored 10 unanswered points on a run sparked by a made free throw from Fuller, while back-to-back free throws from Bolton cut the deficit to 19, 46-65. Mobley drained a layup in the final 30 seconds to put the game away at 67-46. 

The Lady Braves took a one-point lead at 15-14 after a free throw from Fuller, with under 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Drameka Griggs ignited the the Clayton State offense after a steal and a made layup that led to a 14-1 surge, allowing the Lady Lakers to take a 28-16 lead with five minutes to go before the intermission. In the final seconds of the half, Auburn Randolph drilled a triple to give Clayton State a 40-20 advantage into halftime. 

UNCP will continue a four-game road trip on Monday when the Lady Braves head to the state of Alabama to take on the Lady Falcons of Montevallo (11-6, 6-2) at 2:30 p.m. inside the BankTrust Arena.