HARROGATE, Tenn. – A 32 point scoring effort by senior Shea Coker and a 10-2 third quarter run helped push the No. 24/12 Lady Railsplitters to the 76-68 win over Clayton State Saturday afternoon. Coker's 32 points were the most by a LMU women's basketball player since 2012.

The teams battled back and forth for the first half, but LMU (2-2) stepped up the effort on both ends of the court in the third quarter to power a late 10-2 run to take a double-digit lead. The Lakers (0-3) were never able to cut the lead to less than seven for the rest of the game as LMU held on for their second win of the young season.

Emily Griffith, who had her career-high in LMU's last meeting against Clayton State in last season's NCAA Southeast Regional, came close to tying it as she scored 15 points. As a team, LMU hit 43.7 percent (31-71) from the field and 78.6 percent (11-14) from the free throw line.

LMU out-rebounded Clayton State by a 44-33 margin for the contest. Shea Coker led the team with eight rebounds. Qua Hines, Jordan Brightwell, Cameryn DuBose and Emily Griffith each pulled down five boards apiece.

Clayton State had four players in double-figures, led by Aysia Grimsley's 13 points. Aleisha Merriweather and Tatiana Foster had 12 points each and Mercedes Jenkins scored 11 points. Abreyln Rackley led all players with nine rebounds.

The Lakers went 40.7 percent (22-54) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-17) from three-point range and 66.7 percent (20-30) from the charity stripe for the game.

The game was back and forth for the first three minutes before the Lakers went on a 12-2 run to grab the 17-8 lead. LMU scored four quick points late to cut the lead to 17-12 at the end of the first period.

The Lady Railsplitters came out with the hot hands in the second stanza, outscoring the Lakers 9-4 to tie the game at 21-21 mid-way through the period. Foster would score four of six points for Clayton State as they pulled out to a six point lead, eventually leading by eight, 31-23, with 3:17 remaining. Coker then cut the lead to two late with back-to-back baskets and DuBose would hit a layup as time expired to tie the game at the half.

Coming into today's game the third period had been LMU's Achilles heel as they have been outscored 58-45 in their three games to date, including being out-shot 54.5% to 18.8% in the third in Wednesday's loss at UVa-Wise. Against CSU they dominated the third quarter, not only out-scoring the Lakers 27-15, but shooting 55.6 percent while holding the Lakers to 23.1 percent from the field in the period.

LMU went out to the quick 39-35 lead, only to see Clayton State cut it to 39-38 a minute later. Coker then hit a three-pointer and LMU began to slowly pull away. The Lakers cut the lead to 50-46 with 3:17 left on a pair of free throws, but then a Qua Hines steal and lay-up sparked a 10-2 run over the last 1:47 of the quarter to put the Lady Railsplitters ahead 60-48 at the end of the three quarters.

The Lakers were only able to cut the lead to single-digits thrice in the fourth quarter as LMU's defense clamped down to hold them to only five made baskets from the field. They cut the lead to 66-57 at the 6:43 mark only to see LMU explode for a 7-0 run, capped by a bullet pass from Karsen Sims that found a streaking Shae Coker under the basket for the easy lay-up that put LMU ahead 73-57 with 4:47 left. The closest that Clayton State could get the score the rest of the way was seven points as LMU held on for the 76-68 victory.

Quick Hits

- The win was LMU's 850th in program history, according to available records.

- The last LMU player to score more 32 or more points was Dayshalee Salaman, who had 34 on January 7, 2012 vs. Newberry. Coker's scoring effort also ties for the sixth most points scored by a Lady Railsplitter in the Turner Arena with Melinda Godfrey, who hit 32 vs. Montevallo on Jan. 4, 1997. For the evening, Coker went 13-18 from the field, 3-5 from three-point range and a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line.

- LMU has out-rebounded all their opponents this season by a combined margin of 8.8 rebounds per game.

- This was Clayton State's first-ever meeting with LMU in Harrogate. The teams have usually met in tournaments during this series. LMU now leads the series 3-2.

Up Next

The Lady Railsplitters will make the short trip to face King University next Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tilt vs. the Tornado. LMU won last season's meeting in Harrogate 90-71.