ATLANTA, Ga. - Clark Atlanta women's basketball lost in the first home game since the calendar change versus visiting Central State; 73-65. Playing short a few players, CAU was outrebounded 61-33, but pressured the Lady Marauders into 24 turnovers to remain close in the second half.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Central State 73; Clark Atlanta 65
Record: Central State (7-5; 4-2 SIAC); Clark Atlanta (5-7; 1-3 SIAC)
Date: Jan. 5, 2017 | Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: L.S. Epps Gymnasium | Atlanta, Ga.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter | After falling behind 2-0, Kiyanna Johnson connected on back-to-back 3-pointers with Nicole Graham picking up each assist putting CAU ahead 6-2 after 2:32 of play. Central State pulled ahead, 9-8, before a 6-0 Panthers run with jumpers from Marissa Mandeldove, Lauren Turner and Naquaisha Rattray gave CAU the lead, 14-9. The Panthers closed the opening quarter ahead 16-15.
 
Second Quarter | CAU stretched the advantage to five points with a quarter opening 4-0 run with a jumper from Rattray ahead of a pair of made FT from Mandeldove. Central State closed the half on a 21-8 run to lead at the intermission 36-26.
 
Third Quarter | Clark Atlanta cut the deficit to three points early in the second half, 36-33, by scoring the opening seven points. Graham opened the half with a 3-pointer on the assist from Johnson before baskets from Mandeldove and Rattray. A 16-5 CSU run took the game to the largest lead for the Lady Marauders, 52-38 with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter | A 5-0 run early in the fourth quarter with three made FT from Mandeldove around a Reyana Miller layup pulled CAU within eight points, 63-55. Mandeldove and Miller later scored five-consecutive points from the FT line to pull within five points, 65-60. CAU trailed by just four points, 67-63, after Rattray took the Sydni Davis assist and connected on a jumper and the ensuing FT as she was fouled on the play. Central State ended the game with a 6-2 run.

TEAM NUMBERS:
Clark Atlanta shot 22-for-65 (33.8 percent) from the floor and 18-for-25 (72 percent) from the FT line.
 
Clark Atlanta trailed the offensive rebounding battle, 22-7, leading to 25 second chance points for Central State. CAU also came up short, 39-26, in defensive rebounds.
 
CAU led in points off turnovers, 14-13, and fast break scoring, 8-6.

INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS:
A trio of Panthers scored in double digits with Mandeldove (19) leading the team along with Rattray (14) and Johnson (10).
 
Laruen Turner led the Panthers with eight rebounds while Rattray added seven.
 
Mandeldove, Graham and Davis each had three assists while the trio of Mandeldove, Turner and Davis each had three steals.

UP NEXT:
CAU will host Kentucky State on Saturday in a game that has been moved to 2:00 p.m. from L.S. Epps Gymnasium due to the winter weather.