Birmingham, Alabama -- The Kentucky State University Thorobrettes barely missed out on a chance to advance to the semifinal round of the SIAC Basketball Championship Tournament when they fell to the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers, 72-69, on Thursday afternoon at the Bill Harris Arena.
#2W Kentucky State (12-15) started strong in both halves, but #3E Clark Atlanta (19-8) never stopped pushing back and was able to secure the comeback win after KSU guard Taylor Sanders missed a potential game tying 3-point attempt as time expired.
The Thorobrettes were led by junior forward Brieona Warner who dropped in a team-high 19 points while pulling down nine rebounds. Warner was limited by foul trouble and ended up fouling out with 1:07 remaining. Sophomore guard Nandi Taylor picked up a season-high eight assists on Thursday but also struggled against the CAU pressure, turning the ball over seven times. Seniors Style Harper and LaShell West contributed with 12 and 10 points respectively in their final game as Thorobrettes.
With the game tied at 65-65, CAU guard Conisha Hicks scored the final seven points for the Lady Panthers who move on to face #1E Albany State in the semifinal round. Hicks finished with a game-high 24 points along with three assists and three steals.
Besides the large runs, both teams lead by as many at 10 points, the biggest storyline of the game was turnovers. Clark Atlanta forced the Thorobrettes into 18 turnovers, consistently harassing the KSU guards. The Lady Panthers picked up 13 steals and scored 26 points off turnovers.
In the first half KSU center Crystal Allen converted a layup to put the Thorobrettes ahead of CAU 25-18 with 7:07 left. From there Clark Atlanta would take over going on an extended 21-6 run to finish the opening period. Clark Atlanta entered the locker room ahead of KSU, 39-31.
The Thorobrettes regrouped at halftime and would slowly wear down the Lady Panthers in the second half.
At the 11:42 mark of the second half Warner converted a layup after an effective up and under move to give the Thorobrettes their first lead since the Lady Panthers went ahead, 29-28, with 4:34 left in the opening period.
That basket started a 17-7 run that put KSU ahead, 65-56, with just over four minutes left in the contest.
The Lady Panthers again fought their way back. CAU fought all the way back to tie the game at 65-65 when Denissea Law converted a fast break layup with 2:14 left.
After Harper hit the front end of a pair of free-throws for KSU, CAU guard Conisha Hicks hit a timely 3-pointer and converted a pair of free-throws in successive possessions to put CAU ahead 70-66 with just 1:07 left in the game.
Kentucky State guard West converted an and-one jumper to pull the Thorobrettes to within one at 70-69 with 51 seconds left.
After the Thorobrettes forced a shot-clock violation KSU took possession with 27 seconds left. Miscommunication led to a crucial turnover and CAU retook possession with just seven seconds remaining. After a quick foul, Hicks hit a pair of free-throws to extend the CAU lead to 72-69 with 5.4 seconds remaining.
Sanders got off a potential game tying 3-point attempt as time expired but the shot fell short and Clark Atlanta escaped with the 72-69 victory.
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