ATLANTA, Ga. – GRU Augusta opened play in the Clark Atlanta Classic with a 65-59 loss to Clark Atlanta on Friday night in Epps Gymnasium.

Clark Atlanta (3-1) entered the night on a two-game winning streak and continued it with a late run in the second half. The Panthers went into the break up by six, but the Jaguars (0-2) clawed back out of the whistle to steal the lead – led by senior Becky Newhouse's team leading 18 points. She added 10 rebounds for a double-double in the second game of the season for the Jags.

Nekia Sockwell put Clark Atlanta back on top with a late three pointer and the team never let go for a 65-59 victory. Denissea Law, Jomanda Smalls, and Erika Sumpter all had 12 points for the Panthers, while the team shot 17-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Freshman Tavia Sykes posted 14 points and four rebounds – shooting 4-of-8 from the field and knocking down two treys. Junior transfer Whitney Rohrbach grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds and senior Brooke McCants added nine points and six assists. The Jags outrebounded the Panthers 63-to-41, but shot 34.4 percent and 45.8 from the free-throw line.

Official stats were unavailable.

The Jags return tomorrow, Nov. 23 for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff against Miles in the final day of the Clark Atlanta Classic.