Clark Atlanta had four players in double figures but fell to Montevallo 83-64 Friday night in the Lady Panthers' season-opener during the Gulf South Conference/Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Challenge.
Not having won a season-opener since defeating Sant Leo University – CAU's opponent for their upcoming home opener on Thursday, Nov. 14 – in 2015, the Lady Panthers (0-1) had hoped for a carryover from their strong showing a week ago against Division I Ole Miss.
But the Lady Panthers started slow offensively, hitting only four field goals in the first quarter and two field goals in the second quarter.
Down only two points, 10-8 in the first quarter after
Lakashia Hill's jumper, Clark Atlanta missed their final six shots in the quarter while Montevallo (1-0) went on a 9-0 run as the score went to 17-8 heading into the second quarter. CAU didn't hit another basket from the floor until Hill's layup with 3:48 left before halftime pulled the Lady Panthers to within ten at 27-17. Montevallo extended that lead to 38-22 at the half.
That lead grew to 24 as Montevallo wen on a 10-2 run over the first two minutes of the third quarter to go up 48-24. That lead grew to as many as 28 as Montevallo maintained their lead to take the win.
The Lady Panthers hit only 29 percent of their shots for the game, though they hit 17 baskets in the second half, compared to just six in the first half. Montevallo was 33-of-88 (41 percent) from the floor with five 3-pointers. CAU was 1-of-14 on their 3-point attempts.
Reagan Jackson led CAU with 13 points, along with three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Nailah-Mawusi Mitchell added 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block, while
Autum Morings had 11 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in her Lady Panthers regular season debut. Hill finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and a steal.
Jalisa Jones added seven points and 11 rebounds.
Shyan Flack led Montevallo with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Kiya Sain also had 17 points.
The Lady Panthers quickly return to the floor on Saturday when they face Auburn University-Montgomery at noon. The Warhawks earned their first Division II win Friday when they defeated Tuskegee 68-57 in the second game of the GSC/SIAC Challenge in Montevallo.
