AUGUSTA, GA - The Claflin Lady Panthers (0-2) put up a great defensive effort, but some offensive struggles proved costly in a 61-39 road loss to the Augusta (Ga.) Jaguars (2-1), Wednesday evening. After allowing just 27 first half points to the Jaguars, foul troubles kept the Lady Panthers from keeping up the defensive effort and allowed the Jaguars to pull away with the loss.
 
As a team, the Lady Panthers especially impressive on the defensive end. The team held their opponents to shooting just 37.9% (22-of-58) on their home court. However, the Lady Panthers had some issues getting their offense started as they shot 30.6% (15-of-49) from the floor. Claflin senior guard Dionna Long led the way with 10 points. She was the only Lady Panther to reach double-digit scoring in the game. Senior forward Autheria Dantzler added six points. Sophomore forward LaTerrlyn LeShore added five points with a team-high six rebounds.
 
The Lady Panthers opened the game with a strong start as they held the Jaguars to just 11 first quarter points. Points were hard to come by for both teams during the quarter as the two teams combined for just seven made shots during the quarter. After allowing the Jaguars to take an 11-6 lead, the Lady Panthers stormed back in the final minutes as a three-pointer from freshman guard Lauren Scott capped a five-point run by the Lady Panthers and left the team trailing by just one point, 11-10 at the end of the quarter.
 
In the second quarter, both teams kept up their strong defensive efforts. But a pair of late Augusta three-pointers gave the Claflin opponents a bit of a lift. Midway through the quarter, the Lady Panthers found themselves trailing, 17-22 with 4:19 left in the period, but the Lady Panthers bounced back with back-to-back scores that were capped by a jumper from redshirt-freshman center Brandi Rivers with 2:28 left in the quarter. The effort pulled the Lady Panthers within a point of the Jaguars before the Lady Panthers allowed a pair of Augusta three-pointers closed the quarter and left the Lady Panthers trailing, 27-21 at halftime.
 
The third quarter proved to be critical for the Lady Panthers as the team ran into some offensive struggles. For the quarter, the Lady Panthers were outscored 18-8. The Lady Panthers were outscored 12-2 in the first six minutes of the quarter and fell behind, 40-23 before a LeShore free throw with 4:13 left in the quarter. After falling behind by as many as 18 points, the team closed the quarter trailing 29-45.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Panthers continued to show some great effort and scored 10 points, but the team could not overcome their 16-point deficit and ended the night with the 61-39 loss.
 
With the loss, the Lady Panthers fall to 0-2 on the team. The team will return home for their next action when the team hosts the Voorhees For more information on Lady Panthers basketball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.