MORROW, Ga. – The LMU women's basketball team opened the game with a huge run, but Clayton State rallied back and pulled ahead in the fourth quarter to hand LMU a frustrating 81-69 loss on New Year's Eve.

Emily Griffith led LMU with 17 points, while Rachel Griffith had 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Sydney Duggins chipped in 11 points and Dasia Maxwell also added in 10 points.

Aleisha Merriweather led the Lakers with 26 points and Madison Newby chipped in 18 points.

The Lady Railsplitters hit 35.8 percent (24-67) from the field for the game, 27.3 percent (3-11) from behind the arc and 78.3 percent (18-23) from the free throw line.

They out-rebounded Clayton State 47-42 for the game.

LMU took the tip and Emily Griffith hit the short jumper to get things going. After CSU tied it up on a driving layup by Aleisha Merriweather, Rachel Griffith hit a driving layup of her own to spark a 10-0 LMU run. Clayton State's Kelsie Towns then came off the bench for seven quick points to cut the lead to three and LMU led 21-18 after one quarter.

Clayton State took a 24-23 lead before back to back scores from Emily Griffith and Kyndall Caudle put LMU back in front by two. Clayton State then went on a large run to pull out to a ten point lead late, but LMU mounted a late run of their own, including five points from Rachel Griffith, to cut the lead to 41-37 at the half.

The Blue and Gray opened the third quarter with a hot shooting touch, taking the lead on a Jordan Maney jumper. The teams then traded leads, with neither one leading by more than three , but LMU rallied late and the game was tied 53-53 at the end of the quarter.

Clayton State scored five quick points to start the fourth quarter, and despite LMU cutting the lead to two on several occasions they were unable to make up any ground. They also went ice cold down the stretch, hitting only one of their final ten shots for the game.

LMU will step back into South Atlantic Conference play as they host Newberry Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.