Sunday, December 4, 2016

Claflin Lady Panthers Remain Unbeaten in SIAC

Senior NaBresha Hughes scored 12 points in the win
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The Claflin University women's basketball team ran their Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) record to 3-0 with a 72-54 win over Lane College Saturday at the Tullis Arena.

This is the second straight season Claflin has opened conference play with three straight wins.

The Lady Panthers improved to 7-2 overall.

Jhontay Giles led Claflin with 13 points and nine rebounds. NaBresha Hughes chipped in 12 points, while Joclyn Ramos had nine points in the win.

Dionna Marcus and Briana Chisolm came off the bench to contributed eight points apiece.

Lane, now 1-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference, was led by Tashara Jones with a game-high 18 points.

A defensive change at the beginning of the second quarter jump started the Lady Panthers on both ends of the court. Tied at 17-all at the end of the first, Claflin Coach Deont'a McChester made the defensive adjustment which proved to be what the Lady Panthers needed.

McChester decided to apply pressure on the defensive end. The move saw the Lady Panthers hold the Lane offense to just six points in the second quarter.

On the offensive end, Claflin opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run for a 27-19 lead at the 4:12 mark. During that period, the Lady Panthers forced eight turnovers and six missed shots.

Brittany McWaine halted the run for Claflin with a layup with 3:19 showing on the clock.

Claflin would outscore Lane 6-2 the rest of the way for a 33-23 halftime lead.

"It's was our defense," McChester said. "The defensive pressure got us going on both ends of the court. We played very well defensively, especially in the second quarter. Our defense pressure forced turnovers that we were able to capitalize on offensively.

"Our defense has really been a big weapon for us this season."

The Lady Panthers defensive unit forced 14 of their season high 26 turnovers in the first half. Claflin previous best this season was 23 against North Alabama (11/12/16).

The Lady Panthers had four players that scored six points each in the opening half.
The second half was pretty much the story as Claflin outscored Lane 23-18 in the third quarter to increase its lead 56-41. Hughes' three-pointer at the 1:39 mark of the quarter provided the Lady Panther with their biggest lead at 56-36.

Claflin racked up 16 points in the fourth quarter to 13 for Lane.

The Lay Panthers will return to the hardwood Saturday, Dec. 12, playing host to Virginia Union in a 5:30 p.m. contest. The Lady Panthers will remain at home for two more games, Livingstone College (Dec. 15) and Limestone (Dec. 17) before hitting the road Dec. 19 to close out the calendar season at Florida Southern.

BOX SCORE

CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

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