Capping a historic season in which they won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division title, the SIAC Tournament and earned a bid to the NCAA Division II Women's National Basketball Tournament, the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers basketball team was honored by the Atlanta City Council during their May meeting.

Councilman Michael Julian Bond, son of civil rights legend Julian Bond, led the Council in proclaiming May 7 as Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers Day in Atlanta and presenting head coach Yolanda Moore with a proclamation.

"This group of young ladies gives a whole new meaning to the term "black panther," Bond said.  "With all the excitement around the theatrical release, these young ladies were providing nail-biting moments on the basketball court.

"With a 20-9 record during the 2017-2018 season, the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers leaped to the top after finishing last in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference just one season ago," Bond said.

"It is so great for us to welcome CAU – Clark Atlanta University – and every department of Clark Atlanta in this place," Councilman Ivory Young.  "I am so happy to see the work that continues with Council member Cleta Winslow and the work that's ongoing with our mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, to help fortify and strengthen our good relations.  

"And to you all, it's just an amazing story," Young said.  "We need to celebrate our champions so that we can breed and create other champions.  God bless you all for your courage and your strength and your fortitude to reach these high heights."

Moore thanked CAU President Ronald A. Johnson and First Lady Irene Johnson, Athletic Director J Lin Dawson and the entire Clark Atlanta University athletic department staff.  But she reserved the most special thanks for her team – seniors Marissa Mandeldove, Lauren Turner, Kiyanna Johnson and graduate student Danielle Veney, Naomi Holloway, Jonae Lee, Rhianna McCullum, I'Nayah Moore, Reyana Miller, and Courtney Hall.

"I couldn't have imagined this time last standing before you all as champions," Moore said.  "We overcame a lot of challenges. We battled a lot of injuries.  Sometimes we were down to about five players actively able to participate. But these young ladies perservered, they stuck together as a team and we were able to come out victorious."

Johnson said day was an important one for CAU.

"A year ago, they were in the back of the pack. Today, they're in the front of the pack leading and that's what our university is all about," the First Lady said.  "We just want to say thank you to our council members and to our mayor for supporting the Atlanta University Center, and Clark Atlanta University in particular."