After trailing most of the second half, the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers took over in the fourth quarter and held on for a 62-61 victory over Albany State in Albany, Ga., Monday.

It was a big win for the Lady Panthers (6-15, 6-7 SIAC) who are looking to leap-frog Albany State (8-14, 7-6 SIAC) for third place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division.  The third-place team will play on the second day of the SIAC Women's Basketball Tournament that starts on Feb. 28 in Rock Hill, S.C.  The seeds lower than that would have to start on the tourney's first day on Monday, Feb. 28.

Monday, the Lady Panthers – still playing with just eight players from their original 16 at the beginning of the season – twice got out to a ten-point lead in the first quarter, the second time after Reagan Jackson hit a free throw after being fouled on a made basket.  The Lady Panthers were up 20-10 at that point late in the quarter.

Albany State turned things around in the second quarter with a 19-6 run that saw them take a 29-26 lead after Kierstyn Milner's 3-pointer with 1:01 left in the half.  ASU got another 3-pointer as the half ended to lead 32-26 at halftime.   It was a second quarter that saw CAU only hit one of 14 field goal tries and four free throws in the quarter.

ASU pretty much kept the lead throughout the third quarter as CAU's shooting woes continued as they only hit five more baskets, with Albany State only hitting four themselves.  But as the fourth quarter started, the Lady Panthers were able to wrest the lead from Albany State.

Corriana Evans got a basket inside followed by another by Kaia Barnett who also hit a free throw as the Lady Panthers took the lead at 51-49 with 6:52 left in the game. CAU got the lead up to seven points – 57-50 after an Evans basket, but ASU fought back one last time. Kennedy Horton hit a 3-pointer with a minute left and then after a Jackson turnover, she hit another 3-pointer to pull the Golden Rams to within one at 57-56 with 37 seconds remaining.

Evans connected on one-of-two free throws nine seconds later to give CAU a 58-56 lead.  CAU got the rebound after she missed the second free throw and Jackson went to the line for two free throws.  But Jackson missed both.  But the Lady Panthers got the rebound off the second miss. Milner then stole the ball from Riana Smith but missed her next shot.

Maegan Barkley was subsequently fouled, but she missed two free throws with 17 seconds left.  Albany State took possession and was fouled. Kashay Hankerson hit one-of-two shots to pull the Golden Rams within a point at 58-57 with 11 seconds left.

In the end, CAU won the free throw battle, hitting four free throws in the final ten seconds as ASU miss a field goal and could only connect on one-of-two free throws over the next seven seconds.  CAU had a four-point lead after Denise Stine connected on two free throws with three seconds left at 62-58.  Hankerson hit a 3-pointer as time ran out, but it wasn't enough as CAU got the important one-point victory.

Neither team shot well all night as CAU only hit 27 percent of their shots and ASU connected on just 35 percent of theirs.  Both teams combined to miss 19 free throws.

Jackson led Clark Atlanta with 17 points, two rebounds and two assists while Evans added 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals and an assist.  Barkley had 14 points and Barnett finished with 16 rebounds, six points, one steal and an assist.

Juanisha Black led ASU with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Lady Panthers return to L.S. Epps Gymnasium to play the nation's 20^th ranked Division II basketball team, Savannah State, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17.