FLORENCE, S.C. – Third-seeded Clayton State University placed four players in double figures Friday night as the Lady Lakers’ claimed an 88-69 victory over sixth-seeded Francis Marion University in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Women’s basketball South Atlantic Regional host by Francis Marion in the Smith University Center.

Clayton State advances to Saturday night’s semifinals when they will play the Tusculum/Lander winner at 8 p.m.

The Lady Lakers improve to 19-10 overall, while Francis Marion’s season ends at 21-9. However the Patriots’ record equals the eighth-best one-season turn-around in NCAA Division II history. FMU was 6-22 one season ago.

Clayton’s Shantel Ragin scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Dominique Jennings added 14 points, Lisa Jackson 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Roberta Phillips 12 points.

Freshman Shannon Singleton-Bates and junior Creshenda Singletary scored 15 points each to lead Francis Marion. Singletary also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while Bates had six. Junior point guard Kevina Ransom broke her own single-game school record for steals with 12.

After five ties and five lead changes in the first half, Clayton State finally made its move when it broke a 28-28 deadlock with 5:42 left in the half and went on a 12-0 run to take a 40-28 lead on a three-pointer by Jennings with 2:42 remaining.

Clayton, which led 45-35 at halftime, shot 44.4 percent in the first half, while FMU shot 40 percent.

The Lady Lakers controlled the second half and built its lead up to as many as 20 points on two occasions, the last time at 68-48 with 8:28 left to play.

Clayton State connected on 26-of-65 field goals for 40 percent, including 4-of-13 three pointers for 30.8 percent. The Lady Lakers, who won the battle of the boards 59-38, made 32-of-47 free throws for 68.1 percent.

FMU made 27-of-75 floor shots for 36 percent, including 3-of-18 three pointers for 16.7 percent. The Patriots were 17-of-21 from the foul line for 70.6 percent.