Clark Atlanta University women’s head basketball coach Tony Bailey (in conversation with senior guard Janiyah Ellis) finished the 2025-2026 season wth an 18-12 record. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice The Clark Atlanta Panthers‘ SIAC tournament run ended in the semifinals following a 75-72 loss to Miles College in overtime on Friday, March 6. The two teams split their regular-season meetings in Atlanta and Alabama, but Friday’s game was one of the best of the season. Miles had a large lead in the loss to Clark Atlanta at L.S. Epps. In this game, the Bears held multiple double-digit leads, and the Panthers kept closing the gap.  Miles’ freshman guard Samarian Franklin (24 points, eight assists) kept the Bears’ offense rolling early on. An Alabama native and highly recruited high school player, Franklin got to the basket on drives whenever her jump shot was off. Samarian scored just nine points on 13 shots during the first half, but led the way for the Bears with four assists.  Miles led the game by 10 points after the first quarter and by eight points at halftime. Clark Atlanta couldn’t cut the lead despite stellar play from junior forward Atronia Garner (21 points, 14 rebounds) and senior guard Janiah Ellis (12 points). Miles went ahead early on 9-4 and extended its lead to 17-7 following a three-pointer from senior forward Madison Lee (11 points, 11 rebounds).  The experience of having played two competitive games against Miles this season helped keep Clark Atlanta in the game. The score was tied at 53 at the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter when Franklin, who only scored three points during the third quarter, broke the tie with a midrange jumper to put Miles ahead 55-53. Clark Atlanta had been to the free-throw line 29 times through three quarters and only made 19. Ellis had a chance to tie the game for Clark Atlanta with two free throws and only made one.  Miles College has young players leading the way. Along with Franklin, fellow freshman Nayla Wesley kept their team in the fight with post scores when the offense was growing stagnant in the fourth quarter. Wesley’s up-and-under move gave Miles a 57-54 lead with less than five minutes to play.  With Miles ahead 59-54 with three minutes remaining in the game, Clark Atlanta got consecutive baskets from junior forward Aanisah Moncrief and Garner to pull within a point at 59-58 with 1:48 on the clock. Miles freshman guard Samarian Franklin (2, right) was 8-30 from the field for 24 points. She finished the game going 4-4 from the line and leading her team with eight assists. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice Franklin took over the final seconds of the game, making a floater on one drive and getting an assist on another to keep Miles in front late. Her free throw with 20 seconds on the clock gave the Bears a 64-60. Moncrief, who, along with Ellis, took the most free throws for Clark Atlanta, made two free throws to make the score 64-62 with just under 13 seconds left. Trinity Jones tied the game for Clark Atlanta with a layup. Miles had a shot with six seconds left, but Franklin, 7-28 from the field at that point, missed. In overtime, Miles found a way to get Franklin open for drives. Her basket with 1:45 left gave Miles a 70-68 advantage. Moncrief made a free throw to close the deficit to a point. Clark Atlanta missed several shots in the paint with less than a minute to play. With Miles ahead 71-69 following a Franklin free throw with 28.3 seconds on the clock, Clark Atlanta had another opportunity to tie the game, but Garner missed one of her two free throw attempts and traveled following the rebound. With Miles ahead 73-72, Franklin went to the line again and made both of her shots. On Thursday, Clark Atlanta played its first tournament game against Tuskegee University, winning 62-52.  Clark Atlanta went into halftime with a six-point lead, 24-18. The Panthers allowed Tuskegee back into the game, and the game was tied at 51-48 with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Clark Atlanta sophomore point guard Joirdyn Smith’s floater in the lane gave the Panthers a 59-52 lead with less than a minute to play. The basket was her 10th point of the game, joining junior Atreonioa Garner (18 points) in double figures. Senior forward Shawn Tate added eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The post Clark Atlanta Panthers fall to Miles College in thrilling overtime semifinal appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less