RALEIGH, N.C. (Nov. 20) – Saint Augustine's University rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth period to force overtime, but the Lady Falcons fell 72-67 to Claflin University in the CIAA women's basketball opener for both teams at Tullis Arena in Orangeburg, S.C., on Monday, Nov. 19.
Kiana Clark (Jr./Queens, NY) led five double-figure scorers with 16 points for the Lady Falcons, who outscored the Lady Panthers 23-7 in the final 5:40 of regulation to send the game into overtime. Kamya Renwicks (Jr./Baltimore, MD) added 13 points and Shankia Clark (Jr./Orlando, FL) chipped in 11 points. Angela Caraballo (Jr./Richmond, VA) and Bianca Igwe (Sr./Tampa, FL) each contributed 10 points.
Caraballo scored six points and the trio of Kiana Clark, Renwicks and Kelsee Arnold (Sr./Fayetteville, GA) each scored five points during the Lady Falcons' fourth-quarter spurt, which was aided by a full court press. A layup and free throw by Renwicks started a 12-0 run in a three-minute span to pull the Lady Falcons within 54-50 with 2:23 left after trailing 54-38.
The Lady Panthers led 59-55 on two free throws by Ashley Fields with 34 seconds left, but the Lady Falcons (0-1 CIAA, 1-3 overall) pulled even on treys by Arnold and Caraballo, whose three-pointer with eight seconds remaining tied the score at 61-61.
In overtime, the Lady Falcons took a brief lead at 63-61 on Kiana Clark's layup. The Lady Falcons fell behind, but Caraballo knotted the score at 65-65 on a layup with 2:39 left. The Lady Falcons were outscored 7-2 the rest of the way.
Fields scored a game-high 25 points for the Lady Panthers (1-0 CIAA, 3-2 overall), playing in their first-ever conference game as a new CIAA member. Dashia Jackson added 18 points and Dionna Long registered 14 points.
The Lady Falcons shot 41.7 percent from the floor including 36.8 percent behind the three-point arc. Clark connected on 4 of 8 three pointers.
The Lady Panthers made 40 percent of their shots but were held to 26.7 percent three-point shooting. They outrebounded the Lady Falcons 45-35 which led to a 16-5 edge in second chance points.
The Lady Falcons will take a Thanksgiving break before hosting Virginia State University in a non-conference game at Emery Gymnasium on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.
