ATLANTA, Ga. - Clark Atlanta dropped the opening game of the 2016-2017 season to visiting Talladega College, 79-60, with newcomers Marissa Mandeldove and Lauren Turner leading the Panther offense.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Talladega 79, Clark Atlanta 60
Record: Talladega (5-2), Clark Atlanta (0-1)
Date: Nov. 12, 2016 | Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: L.S. Epps Gymnasium | Atlanta, Ga.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Lauren Turner recorded the first points of the season on a pair of FT attempts to tie the game, 2-2, with 8:06 remaining in the opening quarter.

Naquaisha Rattray would provide the Panthers with the lead, 4-2, after converting on a layup with the assist going to Reyana Miller.

A 7-0 CAU run would give the Panthers the 13-8 lead with4:18 left in the first quarter.

Talladega would score 8-of-10 to close the quarter leading 16-15.

Turner provided the Panthers with the lead, 23-21, with 7:32 left until halftime on a jumper with another assist to Mandeldove. That would be the final lead for CAU on the day.

Talladega utilized a 5-0 run to take the lead and close out the half on a 12-0 run over the final 3:16.

The Panthers would trail the entire second half but would outscore the visitors in the final quarter, 18-16.

THE NUMBERS:
Clark Atlanta held the advantage in points off turnovers, 10-9, points in the paint, 18-12, and fast break points, 8-2. Second chance scoring, 15-11, and bench points, 25-15, favored Talladega.

The Panthers shot 24-for-69 (34.8 percent) from the floor and 9-of-15 (60 percent) on FT attempts. CAU struggled from 3-point range making just 3-of-15 attempts.

Turner (17) and Mandeldove (11) were the lone Panthers to reach double-digits in points  while Courtney Hall registered 10 rebounds off the bench along with the game-high four blocks.

Mandeldove led CAU in assists (eight) and steals (three) in her first game as a Panther after transferring from Georgia Highlands.

UP NEXT:
Clark Atlanta travels to Rome, Ga. on Nov. 16 to play Shorter University before returning home on Nov. 21 versus Lynn University at 6:00 PM.