Virginia State Holds Off Lady Panthers

Box Score Orangeburg, S.C. – Virginia State University withstood a later fourth-quarter surge by Claflin University in defeating the Lady Panthers 67-62 at the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex (Tullis Arena), Wednesday (Feb. 5).

The non-conference loss dropped Claflin season record to 1-20 heading into Saturday (Feb. 8) home game versus Johnson C. Smith University in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division matchup. The contest will wrap up a three-game homestand for the Lady Panthers.

Dionna Long of Claflin led all scorers with 19 points that included three, three-point baskets. Shakarri Mack and Joice Beda Thomas came off the bench to chip in 12 points each for the Lady Panthers. Mack also pulled down nine rebounds.

Virginia State, now 9-15 for the season, was led by Yazmen Hannah with 16 points and Natalia Leaks at 14 points.

For the second time this season, Claflin came up short to Virginia State. Like the first meeting at Virginia State, the Lady Panthers were outscored in the first-half but made the contest close with a strong offensive showing in the second half.

This time around, Claflin trailed 39-26 after two quarters of play, shooting a combined 32.2-percent (10-for-31) from the field during that period.

Things changed starting with the third quarter as Virginia State just bearly outscored Claflin at 11-10 to lead 50-36.

In the fourth quarter, the Lady Panthers found their shooting range, outscoring Virginia State 26-17. In the quarter, Claflin pulled within 55-52 with 4:48 left on a three-pointer from Long. The basket capped off a 16-5 Lady Panther run.

Claflin made it last move as a Beda Thomas tip-in with two minutes remaining left, pulled the home team within a bucket at 59-57. That would be closest the Lady Panthers would get as Virginia State scored eight of the final 13 points.

Claflin finished the quarter shooting 42.1-percent (8-for19) and 30.8-percent (20-for-65) for the game. The Lady Panthers hit five three-pointers in the game and connected on 17-of-25 at the free throw line.

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