BALTIMORE, MD - The Claflin Lady Panthers (15-10) opened the 2025 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women's Basketball Championship Tournament on a high note when the team took a 50-39 win over the Elizabeth City State Lady Vikings () in the opening round.
 
While both teams struggled to get their offensive efforts in gear, the Lady Panthers were able to step things up on the defensive end to roll their way to the win. As a team, the Lady Panthers shot 31.1% (19-of-61) from the floor and just 25% (five-of-20) from the three-point line. Claflin senior guard Nya Morris led the way with 16 points and five steals in the win. Claflin graduate guard Jasmine Sample added nine points while junior forward Ashari Lewis added a 10-rebound game of her own.
 
The Lady Panthers controlled the game from the very beginning after opening the game with a seven-point run. From there, the Lady Panthers never looked back. The Lady Panthers were at their best early in the game when a tip-in from Lewis with 2:24 left in the second quarter gave the Lady Panthers their largest lead of the game, 31-14.
 
The second half told a different story as the Lady Panthers' offense cooled off. The Lady Panthers managed to score just 17 second half points, including nine third quarter points and eight fourth quarter points. Fortunately, the Lady Panthers continued to push their defensive efforts as the team held Elizabeth City State to just 22 second half points of their own and never let their opponents any closer than 10 points on their way to the win.
 
With the win, the Lady Panthers advanced to the quarterfinal round of the CIAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament for the second season in a row. The Lady Panthers will take on the second-seeded Virginia Union Panthers on Thursday at noon.
 
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.