Box Score The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers shook off a sluggish third quarter to defeat Claflin 52-49 on the road Monday.

The win is the Lady Panthers' sixth in a row as they go to 13-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season.  Clark Atlanta, alone in first place in the SIAC East Division, is 15-7 overall this season.

After trailing most of the first quarter, the Lady Panther jumped out to a nine-point lead midway through the second quarter, going up 24-15 on Riann McCullom's 3-pointer with 5:44 left in the half.  Clark Atlanta's lead was six – 29-23 – at halftime.

Claflin turned that six-point deficit into a six-point lead as Clark Atlanta didn't score a basket in the third quarter.  The Lady Panthers could only muster three points off free throws through the entire quarter as Claflin went up 38-32.

But in a two-minute span during the early part of the fourth quarter, Marissa Mandeldove hit two baskets, Naomi Holloway knocked down a 3-pointer and then Kiyanna Johnson added a layup that gave CAU a 43-42 lead with 6:19 remaining.

After taking a 48-47 lead with 3:35 left the CAU defense clamped down on Claflin and only allowed them to score two free throws the rest of the way.   Reyana Miller's basket and two Mandeldove free throws sealed the game for Clark Atlanta.

Mandeldove finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for CAU.  Courtney Hall had eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks, while Naomi Holloway had nine points, two rebounds and an assist. Lauren Turner had ten rebounds, seven points and two steals.

Jhanice Stokes led Claflin with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Clark Atlanta is off for nine days before hosting Miles College at L.S. Epps Gymnasium on Wed. Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.