Clayton State completed a mission it thought entirely possible, winning the NCAA Division II women's basketball national title with a convincing 69-50 victory against Michigan Tech on Friday night.
The title is the first in any sport for Clayton State.
The Lakers (35-1) broke open a tight, sloppy first half at the St. Joseph (Mo.) Civic Center with an 18-6 run to take a 31-24 halftime lead.
Michigan Tech (31-3) still seemed shocked by the Lakers' withering pressure in the second half. An 11-2 burst in the first two minutes spurred by numerous turnovers put the game out of reach quickly for Michigan Tech, a team that set a school-record for victories and had its 18-game winning streak snapped.
Clayton State's Dennis Cox, the nation's second-winningest coach in women's Division II and the national coach of the year, teaches a pressure defense that averaged 30 turnovers per game and led the nation in steals and turnover margin. Combined with an unselfish offense, the Lakers blitzed through the six-game tourney with double-digit victories in all six games.
Teshymia Tillman scored 26 points for Clayton State on 12-for-18 shooting. The Lakers forced 25 turnovers.
The Lakers will take a flight back to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and arrive at around 3 p.m. Saturday. The university and the city of Morrow will hold a “welcome home” event at the Athletics & Fitness Center at the university between 3:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
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