Orangeburg, S.C. -- Jhanice Stokes came off the bench to produce a double-double with a season-high of 22 points and 12 rebounds in leading the Claflin University Lady Panthers past Livingstone College, 75-62, Monday at the Tullis Arena.
With the win, Claflin avenged a season-opening 80-61 loss to Livingstone on Nov. 15th in Salisbury, N.C.
The Lady Panthers improved to 5-4 on the season.
Stokes, who had 10 points in the first half, also racked up the most field goals in a game by a Lady Panthers this season as she was 10-of-16 from the field to go with two blocks.
Dominique Williams was the second leading scorer for Claflin with 14 points, of which eight came from the free throw line.
Joy Okeke rounded the double-figure scoring for the Lady Panthers with 11 points and a game-high 19, the most by a Claflin player this season.
Zaakariah Williams scored eight points that included a pair of three-point baskets for the Lady Panthers and
Ashley Fields dished out a team-high seven assists for Claflin, one short a season-best of eight against Albany State University (Nov. 30).
Livingstone, now 4-3 on the season, was led by Zena Lovette with a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds. Kyala Searcy added 15 points.
The Lady Panthers used a 10-0 run to start the third quarter to wipe away a 40-36 Livingstone halftime lead. The run gave Claflin its second lead of the game at 46-40 with 7:21 left in the quarter on a layup from Williams.
After both teams hit a single free throw for a 47-41 Lady Panthers lead at the 5:54 mark, Livingstone scored six straight points to tie the contest at 47-47 with 5:24 showing on the clock.
Claflin recaptured the lead for good by finishing the quarter on a 12-8 run to lead 59-55 after three.
In the four quarter, Livingstone pulled to within 60-57 with 5:43 left, the closest the Lady Blue Bears would get. The Lady Panthers ended the game on a 15-5 run for the final margin of victory.
In the first half, Livingstone led by as many as 10 midway through the second quarter before taking the four-point lead into intermission, 40-36.
Claflin will return to action Saturday (Dec. 9) on the road at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Ala.
