Box Score The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers are headed to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship game after defeating Claflin 62-59 Friday at the Birmingham Crossplex's Bill Harris Arena.
It wasn't easy as the Lady Panthers (19-8) had to erase a four-point deficit with 3:47 remaining from a feisty Claflin team that kept it close, mainly by outrebounding CAU 56-36.
Marissa Mandeldove, the SIAC's leader in steals, turned up the defensive pressure by making two steals and converting them to uncontested layups just under two minutes left to play, tying the game at 57-57 with 1:43 remaining.
"It got down to the wire, and [that's when] you have to dig deep," Mandeldove said. "It was hard and I was tired, but I was like 'Im not tired. It's mental. I'm not as tired as I think I am.' I just put my foot on their necks. I knew it wasn't all I had, and I knew it was all they had, so I gave more."
Claflin then missed a 3-pointer and fouled
Naomi Holloway, who hit a free throw and then added another one after Claflin missed a shot and fouled Holloway again with 33 seconds left, giving CAU a 59-57 lead.
Two Claflin fouls, along with a turnover, over the next twenty seconds led to two Mandeldove free throws and one by Riann McCullom that put CAU up 62-57 with 13 seconds left, putting the game out of reach.
Holloway led Clark Atlanta with 26 points including three big 3-pointers late in the third quarter that closed a growing Claflin lead. She also had six rebounds and an assist. Mandeldove finished with 20 points, five steals, six assists and three rebounds.
Kiyanna Johnson added six points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal, while
Lauren Turner seven rebounds, four points, two blocks and one steal.
Jhanice Stokes led Claflin (17-13) with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
"The game went exactly as I thought it would go," said CAU Head Coach
Yolanda Moore. "It was a very competitive win, down to the wire. Claflin did what they do best. They rebounded the ball extremely well. They outrebounded us by 20 rebounds. They had 26 offensive rebounds.
"They did a good job and disrupted us offensively in the first half," she said. "I'm just proud of how our kids battled back in the second and played to win."
The Lady Panthers will now play the winner of Friday afternoon's Kentucky State-Central State for the SIAC Tournament Championship Saturday at 4 p.m. CST. Clark Atlanta last won the SIAC Tournament title in 2013 when the Lady Panthers defeated Benedict.
"I knew we would be in the championship game, when dealing with all the struggles and battles that we've went through this year," Mandeldove said. "We pushed through it and persevered through everything. Honestly, I'm thankful and all glory be to God because he gave us that energy and that hope and that fight to get here. I'm excited and I'm thankful."
