ORANGEBURG, SC (January 6, 2022) – The Claflin Lady Panthers (2-10, 1-3 CIAA) got a big win in their first game of 2022 when the team took a 58-46 win over the Virginia Union Lady Panthers (1-4, 0-1 CIAA), Thursday evening. The Lady Panthers put on one of their best defensive performances of the season when the team took the victory.
As a team, the Lady Panthers put on one of their best defensive performances of the season. The Lady Panthers held their opponents to just 46 points and shooting just 28.6% (16-of-56) from the floor. Offensively, the Lady Panthers had a solid performance, shooting 36.8% (21-of-57) from the floor. Junior forward Breanna Price led the way for the Lady Panthers with a double-double 22 points and 11 rebounds. For her efforts, she was named the Nissan Player of the Game. Freshman guard Lauren Scott added 10 points in the game as well.
The defensive tone of the game was set at the very beginning with both teams making points hard to come by. The Lady Panthers opened the game with a seven-point run to go ahead, 7-0 after a three-point play from junior forward Destiny Coleman with just over six minutes left in the first quarter. However, the Lady Panthers only allowed VUU to get as close as four points before closing the quarter with a 13-7 lead. The tables were turned in the second quarter with Claflin fending off a strong comeback by Virginia Union. The Lady Panthers’ lead was erased early as VUU took their first lead of the game, 15-14 with 6:24 left in the second quarter. The Lady Panthers answered the challenge by reclaiming the lead and never letting go before taking an 18-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
It was in the third quarter when the Lady Panthers really took control of the game by outscoring their opponents 21-10. A three-pointer by freshman guard Janelle Sample with 1:04 left in the quarter gave the Lady Panthers their largest lead of the game, 39-25. In the fourth quarter, the Lady Panthers had to continue to fend off a strong VUU attack. The Lady Panthers allowed VUU to come as close as eight points, 47-39, but the team never allowed their opponents to get any closer and finished the game with the 58-46 victory.
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 2-10 overall and 1-3 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The team will return to action, Saturday when they host the Bowie State Bulldogs in a 1:30 p.m. game.