The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers couldn't hold off a late charge by Fort Valley State, falling 73-69 Tuesday in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

In their final home game of the season and Senior Night before a raucous capacity crowd, the Lady Panthers (6-17, 5-8 SIAC) had opened up an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter on a Reagan Jackson jumper that made it 60-52.

But Fort Valley State (8-13, 6-10 SIAC), who had kept the game close throughout, outscored the Lady Panthers 13-5 over the next five minutes.  They tied the game at 65-65 when Angel Williams hit one of two free throws with 4:44 remaining.

They got the lead up to four points with 3:26 left after hitting two free throws.  Jackson then hit a shot in the paint, followed by a Denise Stine layup to tie the game again at 69-69 with 2:20 left.  But the Lady Panthers weren't able to connect anymore the rest of the way, missing their next three shots and turning the ball over twice. 

The Lady Panthers were also shorthanded late when second-leading scorer, Corriana Evans, was forced to leave the game with an injury.

Fort Valley State got a basket from Torri Myers with 34 seconds left to go up 71-69.  A Ja'Meshia Williams steal from Jackson on the next possession then led to a Jackson foul on Ja'Nya Ferguson with 13 seconds left.  Ferguson hit one-of-two free throws to put the Wildcats up 72-69.  Jackson couldn't connect on a 3-pointer on CAU's next possession.  Stine immediately fouled FVSU's Kyndall
Thomas who hit the second of two free throws to put them up 73-69 to put the game away.

Jackson, who scored her 1,000^th career point early in the second half, led CAU with 25 points. She also had seven rebounds, two steals and an assist.  Evans had 18 points, ten rebounds, four assists and a block before leaving the game. Maegan Barkley had eight points and three rebounds, while Alexis Mann added five points, nine rebounds, a steal and an assist.  Stine finished with five points, eight rebounds, five steals and four assists while Kaia Barnett had five points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Jackson, Barkley and Mann were playing in their final home game.  Also, Lakashia Hill, who has been injured this season, was also participating in her final home game.

Myers led Fort Valley State with 19 points while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking four shots. Amiya Allen had 15 points and 11 rebounds while Ferguson had nine points and 11 rebounds.

The Lady Panthers close out the regular season Thursday when they visit Lemoyne-Owen in Memphis, Tenn., and then take part in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C., that begins on Feb. 28.