ORANGEBURG, SC (December 1 , 2022) – The Claflin Lady Panthers (3-2) put up a tremendous effort, but some shooting woes and foul troubles proved to be too much for the team to overcome in a 62-48 loss to the Augusta Jaguars (5-1), Thursday evening. The Lady Panthers had a tough time putting the ball into the basket in the hard-fought loss.
It was on offense that the Lady Panthers found most of their struggles. As a team, the Lady Panthers shot just 28.8% (17-of-59) from the floor. Claflin sophomore guard Janelle Sample led the way for the Lady Panthers with 19 points in the game. Senior forward Destiny Coleman added 10 points for the Lady Panthers. Sophomore guards Nya Lewis and Lauren Scott joined sophomore forward Dior Shelton who recorded five rebounds each to lead the Lady Panthers.
The Lady Panthers were able to keep things within reach with some solid first half play. In the first quarter, the team shook off a 5-14 start to cut their deficit down to just four points when a Sample three-pointer in the final minute of the quarter left the Lady Panthers trailing, 12-16 at the end of the quarter. The Lady Panthers would keep things close in the second quarter as they matched the Jaguars with 17 second quarter points. Once again, the Lady Panthers found themselves trailing 14-22 in the early minutes of the quarter, but the team kicked things into gear as another Sample three-pointer with 4:36 left in the quarter capped a 10-4 run that pulled the Lady Panthers to within two points, 24-26. Sample would connect on her third three-pointer of the half with 00:23 left to play to keep the game within reach, 29-33 at halftime.
In the second half, things did not go as well for the Lady Panthers. Some foul troubles along with a slow third quarter proved to be too much for the Lady Panthers to overcome. However, that did not stop the team from making a big comeback effort. The Lady Panthers managed just seven third quarter points and fell behind by as many as 14 points, 29-43 with 6:56 left in the quarter. A Sample three-pointer with just under a minute left in the third quarter cut the Lady Panthers’ deficit to single digits, 36-45. However, the team allowed a three-point play in the final minute to head into the fourth quarter trailing, 36-49. The Lady Panthers had a much better effort in the fourth quarter as the team made a furious comeback effort. However, it was not enough. A jumper from senior center Breanna Price cut the Lady Panthers’ deficit down to just seven points, 42-49. However, the Lady Panthers would get no closer and finished the game with the 62-48 loss.
With the loss, the Lady Panthers fall to 3-2 on the season. The team will return to the road for their next action as they will head to Hartsville, S.C. to take on the Coker Cobras. For more information on Lady Panthers basketball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.