DAHLONEGA — Junior Amber Skidgel led the No. 21 University of North Georgia women's basketball team to a 66-54 victory over Clayton State Wednesday night in the final game in Memorial Hall. 
 
UNG was first on the board after a Skidgel free throw to put the Nighthawks up, 1-0. Clayton State answered back with a three to begin the aggressive match-up. Missed opportunities put CSU up 7-1 early on and allowed the Lakers to extend their lead to 11-1.
 
Vanessa Agrusa was next on the board with a lay up to cut the lead to 11-3. Deana Blankinship was right behind her to put UNG back in the game with three consecutive layups, narrowing the gap, 13-9. Agrusa was responsible for eleven points in the first half.
 
Despite trailing the Lakers after halftime, the Nighthawks claimed the lead in the third with three Skidgel free throws, 28-26. More performances from Julianne Sutton and Julie McKie extended the lead to 39-35 at the end of the quarter.
 
North Georgia pulled away once and for all in the fourth with a flurry of baskets, capped by two security free throws from freshman Kara Groover to win the contest.
 
NOTES
- Skidgel led four Nighthawks in double figures with 16 points, making a career-high nine free throws in the contest. Sutton added 12, while Blankinship recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards.
 
- Clayton State's Aysia Grimsley scored 18 points.
 
- UNG went 21-for-25 in free throws on the night.
 
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will continue conference play against Georgia College on Saturday, February 17 at 3:00 p.m. in Milledgeville, Georgia.