Atlanta, GA-Senior Ruthnye Jean-Phillpe’s two free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining in the game sank the Lady Tigers of Stillman College as Clark Atlanta clawed its way back for a 67-66 conference victory Saturday at Epps Gymnasium. 

“This was a great win for us early in the season,” said Head Coach Vanessa Moore. “Our team fought hard and never gave up, and Ruth stepped up for us in a big way.”

After trailing for most of the game, The Lady Panthers orchestrated an 8-2 run and tied the game at 61 with three minutes remaining in the game. Stillman would respond after a series of fouls and hit four of five attempts that gave them a five-point advantage, 66-61.

On its next position, CAU’s Shulonda Shaw’s jumper cut the lead to three points at the 1:00 mark. A Stillman turnover led to a Lady Panthers basket by freshman Denisea Law, who scored two of her 13 second-half points, with 30 seconds left in regulation. 

In the next sequence, a steal by freshman Iyana Spatcher gave the Lady Panthers the ball with 15 seconds remaining. Jean-Phillipe came up huge for Clark Atlanta in the final seconds as she crashed the boards for an offensive rebound and was fouled in the process. She stepped to the line and connected on both free throws which gave the Lady Panthers the 67-66 advantage with 0.4 remaining and their first lead since early in the first half. To close out the game, CAU put together a 6-0 run. 

The Lady Tigers led by as many as eight points in the game and took a 35-31 lead at the half. Stillman shot 67 percent from the field (16-of-24) while the Lady Panthers hit 47 percent (16-of-34). Both team shot below 40 percent from the field with CAU at 32 percent on 24-of-74 shooting and Stillman with 34 percent (23-of-68).

Clark Atlanta won the battle on the boards with 61 led by Jean-Phillpe’s who pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds compared to Stillman’s 49. Law and Jasmine Alston helped CAU’s bench outscore the Lady Tigers’ bench 21-2, with 15 and 11 points, respectively as reserves. Law recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds as well including six on the offensive glass.

CAU sophomore Conisha Hicks led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the floor, four assists and two steals. Jamila McKinnis, Stillman’s leading scorer, put up 18 points, 10 rebounds and four steals while Ashley Kidd chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds and Phyllice Eubanks added nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Panthers (1-1, 1-0), who rebounded after a 58-53 lost to Concordia College in their season opener last Tuesday, will host Tuskegee University Tuesday, November, 22, in a 6 p.m., match-up at Epps Gymnasium.

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