ATLANTA, Ga. – In a back-and-forth performance where both teams showcased their defensive prowess, Tuskegee prevailed in the lasting seconds of overtime. The Panthers led the contest for 33 minutes before injuries, and a last second 3-pointer in regulation led to their fifth loss of the season. Marissa Mandeldove led the charge with 22 points, seven steals and seven assists. Nicole Graham (six points) and Kiyanna Johnson (14 points) made every three pointer for the Panthers.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Tuskegee 74, Clark Atlanta 72
Record: Tuskegee (5-5; 1-1 SIAC), Clark Atlanta (4-5; 0-1 SIAC)
Date: December 14, 2016 | Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: L. S. Epps Gymnasium | Atlanta, Ga.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter | After a couple of defensive possessions, Mandeldove scored the first points of the game on a hard drive to basket. Defense prevailed through most of the quarter as the Panthers shot 27.8 percent from the field. With the offense struggling Mandeldove managed to score eight points to go along with four of the six CAU steals in the first quarter. Clark Atlanta trailed 15-12 entering the second. 

Second Quarter | The Tigerettes continued their run with a bucket to open the quarter to extend their lead. The 8-0 run was short-lived as the Panthers made a ferocious comeback. The Panthers got it going from beyond the arc with 3-pointers from Johnson (three) and Graham. With help from 6-0 and 9-0 runs the Panthers took a 36-28 lead to end the first half.

Third Quarter | A quick 3 from Tigerette's Asha Stegall lowered the Panther lead to 36-31. The Panthers quickly responded with five points of their own to extend their lead to ten (41-31).  Graham and Johnson hit from beyond the arc once late in the quarter  to help extend their lead.

Fourth Quarter | Clark Atlanta came out shooting with a quick jump shot by Naquaisha Rattray, but the Tigerettes quickly responded with a 6-0 run cutting the Panther lead to eight points (56-48). An array of free throws, 3-pointers, and defense helped the Tigerettes erase a 14-point deficit thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by Jalynn Estrada. Estrada hit game-tying 3 with less than a second left in regulation to force overtime.

Overtime | The story of the game continued as both offenses struggled from the floor early. Five misses on five back-to-back possessions by both teams expressed the defensive intensity. A Rattray free throw, with three minutes remaining, was the first point of the quarter. The Panthers were outscored 6-4 in the lasting minutes of the game.

THE NUMBERS:
The Panthers shot 22-69 (31.9 %). Although the Panthers struggled on offense late, they managed to shoot 6-15 (40 %) from beyond the ark.
 
Mandeldove scored a game-high 22 points that included 10-for-10 from the FT line.
 
Courtney Hall (15) and Johnson (14) reached double-digit scoring while Rattray led the Panthers with 10 rebounds.
 
CAU held the 21-16 advantage in points off turnovers having forced 27 miscues by the Tigerettes.

UP NEXT:
Clark Atlanta goes on the road on Dec. 31 to play in Jackson, Tennessee to take on Lane College at 1:00 p.m.