After a huge comeback following a slow start, the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers pushed Central State into overtime, but fell short in the end, losing 86-79 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament at the Birmingham CrossPlex' Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Tuesday.

In an epic game that saw Clark Atlanta (7-20) trail by as many 18 points in the first half, the Lady Panthers clawed their way back into the game, forcing it into overtime but running out of gas in the extra period against Central State (11-16).

"I'm really proud of how our kids fought back," said CAU Head Coach Yolanda Moore. "Central State did a really good job of pushing the ball, scoring early, getting a lot of easy baskets and we found ourselves in a hole. But we showed a lot of resilience, a lot of poise. 

"I think overall at the end, they just showed a little bit more stamina," she said.  "We've asked a lot of them to play a lot of minutes. The season gets long and you play so hard to fight back and that extra five minutes can be mentally and physically draining.  Not saying that's an excuse because Central State played the same amount of minutes that we did.  They were in the same situation as we were as they were short players who were in foul trouble." 

The Lady Panthers missed their first eight shots, finally getting a basket with 3:55 left in the first quarter when Reagan Jackson hit a 3-pointer to make it 10-3.  But Central State closed out the quarter with a 9-1 run to take a 19-4 advantage.   That lead grew to 18 early in the second quarter. 

But CAU settled down pulling to within six at halftime after finishing the half by outscoring CSU 24-12 to make it 37-31 at the break.

"I think it was just desire, it wasn't anything that we told them differently than what we had been telling them all year," Moore said of the comeback.  "Is just they wanted to win. They didn't want to get blown out.  I mean, we went to Central State and got embarrassed back in December at their place, so I'm sure they came into the game with that in mind and not wanting the same outcome.

"But I'm like 'Y'all have to give them what they are giving you. They are just outplaying you.'" she said.  "It was just a decision.  It was just them deciding to play hard, the way we knew the could play."

The Lady Panthers kept within striking distance in the third quarter, with Jalisa Jones pulling CAU to within a basket that made it 51-49 heading into the fourth quarter.

CAU then took their first lead after Brianna McGee's steal and layup made it 53-52 midway through the quarter. The lead see-sawed back and forth heading into the final minutes of regulation.   Jackson hit two free throws with just under a minute remaining to give CAU a 64-62 lead.  CSU's Falon Edwards tied the game nine seconds later, and then was fouled by I'Nayah Moore.  She hit a free throw to put CSU up by one, 65-64 with 50 seconds left.

Nailah-Mawusi Mitchell countered with a basket and then was fouled, adding a free throw to again put CAU up by two points, 67-65 as time ticked under 40 seconds.  CSU then followed with a basket and a free throw of their own to go up by one.

Then with 15 seconds left, Jackson drove into the paint for a layup that put CAU back ahead by a point at 69-68. Jazmin Smith then got a steal for CAU and was fouled with three seconds left. But she missed her two free throws.

Then with three seconds left, CSU got it to Takyra Gilbert who was fouled by Moore with just over a second remaining.  Gilbert then hit one of two free throws to put the game into overtime.

CSU then outscored the Lady Panthers 10-2 in the first three minutes of the extra period to put the game away and get the win.

Jackson finished with 28 points, six rebounds and an assist, while Mitchell added 24 points, eight rebounds and two assists. McGee stepped in to add ten points and six rebounds.

Cox hit 11-of-12 field goals and finished with 27 points and 17 rebounds for Central State, who now advances to play second-seed LeMoyne Owen on Thursday.

"Overall, I'm pleased," Moore said of her squad.  "I'm not pleased with the outcome by any stretch, but I am proud of them for the resilience that they showed, for the fight that they showed.  I think the game was good for our conference.  I thought it was a really good game; it was competitive from start to finish, and it was a good game for women's basketball."