Diana Letaru dropped 18 points, and Shciara Fowles pulled down 13 boards to lead Edward Waters to a 64-61 road win over Clark Atlanta Saturday afternoon.
While Letaru and Fowles controlled the paint, it was guard Imani Harris who provided the spark for the Tigers. Harris was a menace on both ends of the court with 15 points and seven dimes.
The Panthers struggled from the field early as the Tigers pushed the lead out to as high as 8 points in the first period. CAUs Trinity Jones sank a trey ball with three seconds remaining on the clock to cut the lead to five heading into the second.
Atreonia Garner knocked down two free throws early in the second to get the Panthers within one of the Tigers. Keyra Peterson and Trinity Jones were the only Panthers in double figures with 18 and 12 points, respectively.
Kellyn Hunter’s departure from Spring Hill leaves CAUs Atreonia Garner as the only returning player selected to the All-Conference First Team after the 2024-2025. The mass roster restructuring around the conference opens the door for two-time defending champion Miles College to be dethroned.
Jones and Peterson, like Garner, were selected to the SIAC Preseason First Team. They anchor SIAC 2024-2025 Coach of the Year Tony Bailey’s squad that welcomes 10 new players to the AUC, including Peterson. The combo guard played for Albany State University last season and was a Third Team All-SIAC selection. Sophomore point guard Joirdyn Smith is the third holdover from the East’s top seed.
CAU has more returnees than Saturday’s opponents, where forward Zahra Daniel is the sole returnee. The starting five, including Letaru, Fowles, and Harris, are new transfers for Head Coach Eric Jackson, Jr.
“It’s a new team with brand new players, and we are still learning how to play, how to win,” said Jackson after the win. “This was a great test for us. We are just happy to show up and play hard and not succumb to the pressure they put on us in the fourth.”
The Tigers’ lead swelled to a high of 14 points in the fourth. Sharp shooting from behind the arc, coupled with pressure defense, allowed the Panthers to cut the lead to three with 52 seconds to play. Edward Waters went 5-of-6 from the free throw line to clinch the win and improve to (2-3, 2-2).