HARROGATE, Tenn. – The LMU women's basketball team will be seeking to end 2018 with a win as they travel to Atlanta to face Clayton State in a New Year's Eve matinee game.

LMU is currently 6-4 on the season and sits in fourth place in the South Atlantic Conference with a 3-2 record in SAC play following their 68-55 loss at Anderson on December 19. In that game, LMU held the host Trojans and their high-power offense to only seven points in the fourth quarter, but an ice-cold shooting performance in the first half proved to be too much to overcome.

Emily Griffith led the way with 16 points, while Rachel Griffith added in 10 points. Shermeria Quarles led all players with nine rebounds. LMU won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding AU 45-43.

Following this game, LMU will return to SAC play when they host Newberry on Jan. 5.

SERIES HISTORY
· LMU leads in the series 3-2. Last year's meeting was the first time the two teams had met in Harrogate and this game will be their second time playing on CSU's home court. All of the other meetings have been on neutral courts.

· In their last meeting, on Nov. 18, 2017 in Harrogate, LMU grabbed the lead for good in the third quarter with a small run and extended the lead to as much as 16 before the Lakers cut it to eight points late in a 76-68 win. Shea Coker had a career night as she exploded for 32 points, becoming only the second LMU player to score 30 or more since the 2011-12 season.

· The last meeting between the two at CSU was on Dec. 29, 2010. LMU and Clayton State went nip-and tuck for two-thirds of the game before the Lakers went on an 8-0 run late in the second half to pull out a 64-55 win. Patrice Talley led LMU with 16 points, while Carrie Ann Harris chipped in 13.
 
SCOUTING CLAYTON STATE
· The Lakers are currently 4-4 overall and 1-2 in Peach Belt Conference play. They have a few common opponents, with CSU beating Anderson and Wingate (both at CSU's gym) as well as Flagler. They narrowly lost at Carson-Newman.

· Taneria Wilson leads the team in points with a 15.8 average. Aleisha Merriweather is averaging 10.0 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds a game.

· As a team, the Lakers are outscoring by their opponents by a 72.5-68.6 points a game margin. They are being out-rebounded by their opponents by a 1.8 rebound per game average. They also average 21.4 turnovers a game.

· CSU ranks second in the PBC in steals and fourth in points per game.
 
SCOUTING LMU
· Head Coach Krystal Evans is in her fifth season at LMU. She has an 83-47 overall record.
 
· LMU is seeing double as both Emily Griffith and her twin sister Rachel currently lead the team in scoring, with Emily narrowly edging out Rachel 13.7 points a game to 13.3. Emily is also averaging 4.1 assists a game while Rachel is averaging 1.8 steals a game. Dasia Maxwell has 8.9 points a game while Sydney Duggins has 8.2 a game.
 
· Shermeria Quarles leads the team in rebounds average-wise with 6.5 a game, while freshman Sydney Newsome has a 5.6 per game average with more actual rebounds in more game appearances.
 
· LMU could definitely be considered a three-point shooting team this year as Sydney Duggins is second in the SAC in three-point percentage, hitting 45.2 percent. Lindsay Proffitt is right fourth with a 42.3 percentage. Dasia Maxwell is eighth and Rachel Griffith is 14th.
 
· As a team, LMU is averaging 75.1 points a game while holding opponents to 72.5. They are out-rebounding opponents by a margin of +6.1 a game.
 
· LMU leads the SAC in three-point percentage and offensive rebounds per game. They are second in points per game and field goal attempts. They rank third in points, made field goals and made three-pointers.
 
RECORD WATCH
· POINTS –Emily Griffith ranks 39th with 679 points and trails MaRanda Boddie (2011-14) by 13 points. Rachel Griffith isn't far behind at 45th with 617 points.
 
· FIELD GOALS – Emily Griffith is 37th with 255 while Rachel Griffith is 52nd. Dasia Maxwell is in 79th place.
 
· THREE-POINTERS – Rachel Griffith ranks 15th in made three pointers with 73 and trails the 13th place holders by one. Sydney Duggins ranks 25th, while Dasia Maxwell is in 39th place. Emily Griffith is in 58th place.
 
· FREE THROWS – Emily Griffith is in 38th place with 153 free throws. She needs two to tie April Hutsell (1995-99). Rachel Griffith is in 45th place with 124 and Qua Hines is tied for 70th place.

· REBOUNDS – Emily Griffith is 70th with 223 rebounds. She needs one to tie Connie Freels (1980-81) for 69th place. Dasia Maxwell is 84th and Cameron DuBose is close behind at 95th. Rachel Griffith is in 96th place.
 
· ASSISTS – Emily Griffith is in 23rd place with 180 assists while Rachel is 38th with 140. Dasia Maxwell is in 84th place.
 
· STEALS –Emily Griffith has 118 career steals, placing her at 26th. She needs one to tie Rachel Peach (1981-85) and Debbie Green (1988-91). Rachel Griffith is tied for 35th place with 100.