Box Score Lauren Turner scored 19 points and Marissa Mandeldove added 17 as the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat Kentucky State 66-63 Monday at L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

The Lady Panthers remain undefeated in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at 5-0.  The Lady Panthers are 7-5 overall as they head into a week-long Christmas break.

"It was a really good game for us," said CAU head coach Yolanda Moore. "Kentucky State came out really strong in the first half. They were firing from all cylinders.  They were playing solid defense.  And they got us down.  They out-rebounded us – again blocking out is still something we have to work on. 

"But I'm proud of the character that our kids showed, despite of the fact that we were short four players," she said.  "The players who were here, everybody went in and did what was asked of them and we held on.  We didn't make shots in the first half. We really didn't make a whole lot of them in the second half, but we made them when it counted." 

Kentucky State came out fast, outscoring CAU 32-18 in the first quarter.  Both teams had trouble hitting shots in the second quarter, as the two teams combined for just 19 points.  But KSU maintained their lead at halftime with a 41-28 advantage.

The Thorobreds never regained their first quarter shooting prowess, but the Lady Panthers picked up their scoring in the second half.

A CAU 13-0 run through the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, ending in a Turner jumper with 3:51 remaining, tied the game at 57-57.  Courtney Hall's shot gave the Lady Panthers their first lead of the game at 59-58 with 2:06 left.

The Lady Panthers turned up the defense and held outscored KSU 8-4 the rest of the way to get the win.
Turner had 19 points, 17 rebounds and three steals while Mandeldove finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Both played all 40 minutes of the game, as did Naomi Holloway, who had six points, five rebounds, five steals and an assist.

The Lady Panthers are off until Dec. 30 when they visit Spring Hill College.  They return home on Jan. 4 when they play Lane College.