Long’s Buzzer Beating Tip-in Give Lady Panthers CIAA Win over Shaw

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by Panthers Sports Information Department

Raleigh, N.C. – Dionna Long tip-in as time expired lifted the Claflin University Lady Panthers past Shaw University, 77-75, in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) contest Saturday (Nov. 24) at the C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on Shaw's campus.
 
The road win kept Claflin unbeaten against CIAA opponents at 2-0 and improved the Lady Panthers overall record to 4-2, including four straight.
 
Deja Dickens led a balanced scoring attack for the Lady Panthers with 17 points.  She also snagged six rebounds to go along with five assists.  Ashley Fields dropped in 16 points with eight rebounds and Dashia Jackson also had a solid performance for Claflin with 15 points (11 in the second half), seven rebounds and five assists.
 
Long tallied 14 points (12 in the second half) while Shakarri Mack added 10 points to close out the double-digit scorers.
 
Shaw, which saw its two-game winning streak halted, dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the CIAA.
 
KlinTisha Martin led the Lady Bears with a game-high 30 points and eight rebounds followed by Tahniya Sweatt, who recorded a double-double, 24 points-10 rebounds. Sweatt was one assist shy of a triple-double with nine assists.
 
The game went down to the wire as the Lady Bears held a 72-68 lead with 1:02 left, only to see Long provide Claflin the lead three seconds later. Long drilled a three-pointer and was fouled on the play. She converted the free throw, giving the Lady Panthers a 75-74 lead.
 
Shaw regained the lead with 14 seconds left in the game as Sweatt was fouled in the act of shooting. She hit 1-of-2 free throws, tying the game at 75-75, setting the stage for Long's game-winning basket at the buzzer.
 
After Jackson missed a three-point attempt with three seconds left in the game, Long tipped the ball in as the game clock hit zero, giving the Lady Panthers the two-point win.
 
Shaw outscored Claflin in the first two quarters to lead 36-33 at the half.
 
The lead changed hands several times in the third quarter until Jackson hit a three-pointer for Claflin to give the Lady Panthers a two point lead, 45-43, at the 5:52 mark.
 
Claflin finished the quarter, outscoring the Lady Bears 14-11 to lead 59-54 heading in the final period.
 
Shaw outscored the Lady Panthers 21-18 in the fourth quarter.
 
Claflin will continue its four-game road trip, traveling to Virginia State University for a non-conference contest on Thursday (Nov. 29).