ORANGEBURG, SC (February 2, 2022) – The Claflin Lady Panthers (4-16) put up a great effort, but the team came up just short in a 67-53 loss to the #21 Savannah State Tigers (17-1), Wednesday evening. The Lady Panthers played a strong defensive game against the Tigers, but the team struggled to get their own offense going in the loss.
The Lady Panthers’ loss came despite a terrific effort in the game. As a team, the Lady Panthers held the Tigers to shooting just 42.3% (22-of-52) in the game, but the team struggled offensively, shooting 26.2% (17-of-65) from the floor. Freshman guard Lauren Scott led the way for the Lady Panthers with 18 points and three assists. Senior guard Dionna Long added eight points with six steals.
The first half was hard-fought with both teams looking to take control of the game early. In the early going, it was the Lady Panthers in control as a Scott three-pointer left the Lady Panthers on top, 10-7 with 5:12 left in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Lady Panthers allowed the Tigers to close the quarter with an 8-0 run and left the Lady Panthers trailing, 18-10. The second quarter mirrored the first quarter as the Lady Panthers once again came out with a strong effort before Savannah State clamped down in the final minutes. The Lady Panthers would cut their deficit down to just five points, 23-18, after a lay-up from freshman center Brandi Rivers with 4:00 left in the half. However, the Lady Panthers would not score another point while allowing the Tigers to take a 35-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the second half, the Lady Panthers came out of the locker room displaying their trademark effort, but the team was overwhelmed against the Tigers. Early in the half, the Lady Panthers cut their deficit down to just eight points, 37-29, after a Scott three-pointer with 7:18 left in the third quarter. However, the team would get no closer and ended the quarter trailing, 49-35. In the fourth quarter, the Lady Panthers would cut their deficit down to as few as nine points, 49-40, after a lay-up from junior forward Breanna Price with 7:28 left to play. However, the Lady Panthers would not get any closer and ended the day with a 67-53 loss.
With the loss, the Lady Panthers fall to 4-16. The team will return to action, Saturday when they head to Salibury, N.C. to take on the Livingstone Blue Bears, Saturday.