South Carolina HBCU Sports This Week

**Lady Panthers Struggle in 62-48 Loss**

ORANGEBURG, SC - 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.

**Lane Rallies in 2nd Half to Upend Allen Women**

The Allen University women's basketball team saw SIAC foe Lane College rally in the second half to defeat the Lady Yellow Jackets 74-66 on Monday evening.

Allen got off to a 16-12 lead after the first quarter shooting 39 percent and holding Lane to 29 percent from the floor. AU would also win the second quarter 16-15 to lead 32-27 at the halftime break.

However, Lane then went on a 23-12 run to win the third quarter shooting nearly 54 percent while limiting Allen to under 30 percent to lead 50-44 after three. A high-scoring fourth quarter saw the two teams combine for 46 points but Lane shot 69 percent to win the quarter 24-22 and take the game by eight.

The Yellow Jackets then had a trio of women finish in double-figure scoring as junior forward Jaida Reddin, and junior guards Keyshuna Fair and Destinee Jaimson-Whitfield all finished with 10 points apiece. Reddin shot the best going 5 of 8 while leading the team in assists with five and bringing down five rebounds with two steals and a block. Fair also added 4 rebounds with 2 blocks and a steal while Jamison-Whitfield had team-highs in rebounds with six and steals with three.

Senior forwards Cardrina Nolen and Taelor-Symone Jackson combined for 10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks while junior guard Kayla Pope had 7 points and a team-high 3 steals off the bench as well. Junior point guard Eden Campbell-Billups also added 6 points and 3 assists off the bench.

Allen falls to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the SIAC while Lane improves to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The women will next return home on Saturday to host Kentucky St. at 2:00 pm from Adams Gym.

**Lady Bulldogs Fall 87-56 at Coastal Carolina**

CONWAY, SC- South Carolina State scored the first 12-points of the contest to capture an 12-0 lead at the 7:52 mark in the first quarter, but it was not enough as the Chants rallied back to claim an 87-56 victory over South Carolina State Wednesday (Nov. 29th) inside The HTC Center on the campus of CCU.

CCU managed to cut the lead after a 19-6 run to 19-18 to end the first. The Chants controlled the second quarter after outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 25-12 to take an 13-point advantage to close out the first-half 44-30.

Mekayla Lumpkin finished with 16 points off the bench to the lead South Carolina State. Junior guard Nadia Reese and sophomore guard Nicole Gwynn added 14 points. Reese and senior forward Jayah Hicks each grabbed five rebounds in the loss.

Aja Blout led CCU with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Deajay Richardson added 16 points and Amaya finished with 13 points in the win.

South Carolina State falls to 0-9 on the season, while CCU improves to 2-4.

**Paladins Turn Back Bulldogs On The Road**

GREENVILLE, SC—Freshman guard Jordan Simmons tossed in a team-high 14 points, three steals and assist, but it wasn't enough a South Carolina State dropped an 88-76 decision to Furman Saturday (Dec. 3rd) inside Timmons Arena.

The Bulldogs fall to 1-8 on the season, while the Paladins improve to 6-2 overall.

Guard Raquan Brown added 12 points, four (4) rebounds and three (3) assist in the loss, while Rakeim Gary chipped in 10.

Cameron Jones, Lesown Hallums and Shaman Alston each contributed eight points each. Alston grabbed a team-high six rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Despite the loss, South Carolina State led in several categories including Points in the Paint (48-44), Points off Turnovers (19-18), Second Chance Points (16-16) and Bench Points (41-27).

Next up South Carolina State returns to action versus Winthrop Tuesday (Dec. 6th) in a 7 p.m. tip-off.

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**Tigers Surge Past Central State**

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict Tigers used a big second half to defeat Central State 89-70 in a SIAC men's basketball contest on Saturday afternoon in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

Benedict outscored the Marauders 43-29 in the second half as the Tigers shot 57.7 percent, while holding the Marauders to 39 percent shooting.

The Tigers improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the SIAC. Central State falls to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the SIAC.

Brandon Smith led the Tigers with 17 points. Malachi McCoy had 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Tim Moore also added 12 points, while Calvin McCutcheon chipped in 11 points.

The Tigers had a 46-44 lead at the half. The game was tied 54-54 in the second half when the Tigers went on a 17-2 run.

**Panthers Earn 10th Place Ranking in the Atlantic Region in D2SIDA Division II Media Poll**

WILMINGTON, DE - The Claflin Panthers basketball team has been making a name for themselves after four straight wins to open the 2022-23 season. Their hot start has not gone unnoticed as the Panthers earned a 10th place ranking in the D2SIDA Men's Basketball Media Poll. This marked the Panthers' first ranking in the regional poll this season.

The Panthers have been equally impressive both at home and on the road. Most recently, the team took a 75-65 win at former Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) rival, Paine. The team also took an 88-79 win at Mars Hill. The effort followed back-to-back home wins. The Panthers took a dominating 109-59 homecoming win over Morris College. The win came after the team opened the season with am 89-61 win over Allen.