Last-Second Shot Refuses to Fall as Lady Cougars Fall 65-64 at Clayton State

Morrow, Ga. -- Columbus State's Phebe Smith rebounded a blocked shot with two seconds left and put up what looked like the game-winner against Clayton State, but the shot bounced three times on the rim and appeared to be in slow motion as it fell off, giving the Lakers a 65-64 Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinal win. CSU ends its season at 17-11 with the loss. 

The Lady Cougars led for the vast majority of the final nine minutes of the game and appeared to be on their way to an upset win over the hosts. Missed free-throws and costly turnovers, however, allowed Clayton State to stay close and re-take the lead with less than a minute to play. CSU went just 5-15 from the line in the second half and committed 16 of their 35 turnovers in the game after halftime.

"It doesn't take a genius to see where what cost us this game," said CSU head coach Jonathan Norton. "We made way too many turnovers in the game and just could not hit our free-throws when we really needed them down the stretch. Hats off the Clayton State, though, they did what they needed to do to win."

Phebe Smith missed four free-throws in a two minute span late in the game that could have increased CSU's lead to as many as seven point. The last two misses came with 1:13 to play and would have put CSU up by three. Instead, Tanisha Woodard scored on a layup on the ensuing possession and gave the Lakers their one-point lead with 57 seconds left. 

CSU then turned the ball over and Clayton State missed two shot opportunities before Ashley Stafford stole a pass to give CSU possession with 24 seconds left. After a timeout with seven seconds remaining, Monique Jefferson drove in but had her shot blocked by LaDe'Sha Stoudemire into Smith's hands for the final shot.

CSU trailed 40-30 at the half after committing 19 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. The Lady Cougars hung close in the opening minutes of the second half and chipped away at the lead. Trailing 53-47 with 11:30 left, CSU went on a 9-0 run to take the lead. Ashley Stafford hit one of two free-throws with 9:10 left to give CSU its first lead of the game and a Turelle Jones layup with 8:46 left capped the run.

The Lady Cougars would lead by as many as five points with 4;05 left after Stafford made a pair of free-throws, but would not score again in the contest, missing four free-throws, two field goals and committing three turnovers. 

Smith completed her CSU career with 21 points and 17 rebounds on the night. She went 9-13 from the floor, but just 3-8 from the line. Nikki Urbizo single-handedly kept the Lady Cougars in the game in the first half as she went 4-5 from the floor, including three treys in scoring 11 points. She finished the game with 14 points. CSU shot an impressive 58 percent from the floor in the second half and out-rebounded the Lakers 45-31 in the game.

LaTonda Bruce led four Laker players in double digits with 16 points. Woodard added 15, while Genesis Kelly scored 13. Stoudamire finished with 10. Clayton State shot just 28 percent in the second half.

The Lakers advance to face top seed Lander on Saturday in the PBC Championship semifinal round. GCSU will face Francis Marion in the other semifinal game.