Contact Information: Charles Ward (404) 880-6685 cward@cau.edu

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Panthers Record First Winning Season Since 1999

The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Men’s Basketball Team finished the 2007 – 2008 season, advancing to the semifinals of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament. Despite an 81 - 57 loss in the final four of the SIAC Tournament to No. 1 ranked Benedict College, the Panthers closed the year eclipsing their 2006 – 2007 season of 2 – 26, with a 16 – 14 overall mark and a 13 – 9 conference standing. The last time the Panthers finished with a winning record was the 1999 season. In the 2007-08 campaign, the Panthers played some of the best teams among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). En route to their winning season, the Panthers defeated the number one ranked team in the SIAC, the Benedict College Tigers, and the number two ranked Magicians of LeMoyne-Owen College. The Panthers shattered a pre-season prediction of finishing last in the SIAC, concluding the tournament ranked third in the league. The Panthers swept the two-game series in the regular season against Stillman College, Lane College, Albany State University and cross-campus rival Morehouse College. “We worked extremely hard preparing for and during the regular season. We felt we were strong and talented enough to compete with the conference’s best,” Head Coach Darryl Jacob said. “We’ve made pretty good progress in developing a solid program here at CAU. However, we continue to recognize that there is still a lot of room for improvement. Now that we have tasted victories in the tournament, it should fuel our hunger for the SIAC title.” Individually, several Panthers had an outstanding season, led by newcomers, junior guard Kevin Johnson, freshman guard Najee Lane, junior forward/center Garry Beverly, and senior forward Ale Burt. Johnson averaged 14.4 points per game, ranking him eight in the conference. He also finished fourth in the league with a .789 free-throw percentage. Johnson took the title in the 3-pointers per game category, averaging three in every competition. He also scored 20-points or more in five games and garnered the team’s leader in points in 14 games. Johnson was named to the All-SIAC Second Team.

Lane averaged 13.2 points per-game and finished the season ranked number two in the SIAC in free-throw percentage with a .847 percentage. He finished in the conference’s top ten in steals with a 1.77 average, while leading the Panthers in scoring on seven occasions, including a season high of 27 points against Morehouse College in February. Lane was named to the SIAC All-Tournament squad. Burt concluded his senior season averaging 9.9 points per game. He was the team’s third leading scorer and top rebounder with 6.6 per game. Burt finished among the best in the SIAC in rebounds and minutes played while tallying five double-doubles on the year. He led the team in scoring in 11 competitions. Beverly led the CAU defensive effort, finishing third in the conference in blocked shots, 1.96 per game. Beverly contributed significantly to the Panthers’ rebounding efforts, averaging 6.1 during the season, leading the squad in the category in nine games. Junior point-guard Paul Nickerson received All-SIAC Academic Honors for the second straight season. The L.S. Epps Scholarship recipient and Business Administration major currently carries a 3.59 grade point average. Nickerson averaged 4.0 points per game and 1.3 assists in his role as a reserve.

Photo by: Oscar Daniels Photo by: Oscar Daniels

Senior quarterback, Corey Jones throws for Sophomore wide receiver, Mortimer Lightburn one of his three touchdowns. hauls in one of his three touchdowns.

Cau Duo Sparkles But Thorobreds Still Gallop Past Panthers

The Panthers of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) entered Saturday’s gridiron match-up with Kentucky State University (KSU) with hopes of mounting the Thorobreds and riding to their first win of the football season. What happened instead was the Thorobreds jumped out of the scoring gates early, held on down the stretch, and came away with a 30-20 win. Although the teams finished with only two yards separating them in total offense (CAU finished with 276 total yards and KSU finished with 278 yards), the difference in the game came down to execution. While the Thorobreds committed only one turnover in the contest (a fumble), the Panthers proved to be their own worst enemy in the game by committing a total of five turnovers. The four interceptions and one fumble by the Panther offense were simply too much to overcome. With only 1:14 elapsing off the clock, the Thorobreds got the first score of the game. After a quick-hitting, three-play, 78-yard drive, Andrew Ramsey went the final distance of four yards to cap the drive with the touchdown run. Add the extra point by Mauricio Garcia and the Thorobreds had a 7-0 lead. The first interception by the Panthers came near the 9:00 mark in the second quarter and would be the most costly for CAU. Melvin Thomas picked off a Corey Jones pass at the 32-yard line and returned it 68 yards for the Thorobred touchdown. Garcia connected on the point after KSU extended its lead to 14-0.

Page 2 Undaunted by the interception, the Panthers used their aerial to climb right back into the game before half-time. With 5:22 remaining in the first half, Jones found his favorite receiving target, Mortimer Lightburn, on a 33-yard passing route that did not finish until Lightburn touched the end zone. The touchdown strike was the exclamation point on an eight-play, 54-yard drive that consumed 3:36. Reliable Henry Boynton converted on the extra point, and the Thorobred lead was now trimmed to 14-7. The Jones-to-Lightburn combination would create another spark for CAU just before half-time. This time, a six-play, 79-yard march by the Panthers reached its climax when Jones delivered a touchdown pass to Lightburn from 28 yards away. Although the extra- point attempt was blocked, CAU had tightened the reigns on the Thorobred lead, which was now 14-13 at half-time. After the intermission, the Thorobreds appeared to regain their stride. In the third quarter Mauricio Garcia converted a 35-yard field goal to take the Thorobred lead to 17-13. After holding the Panthers scoreless in the third quarter, the Thorobreds struck again with 12:53 left in the game. An eight-play, 70-yard drive ended with Andrew Ramsey’s second touchdown of the game. This time, he scored from 3 yards away. After a great surge from the Panther Defensive Line, the extra-point attempt was blocked. The Thorobred lead was 23-13. With 7:19 left in the game, The CAU duo of Jones and Lightburn would strike again. The 15-yard pass and catch resulted in a desperately needed CAU touchdown. Boynton’s extra-point attempt was good and the Thorobreds had a 23-20 lead. While that would be the last Panther score of the game, the Thorobreds had one more left. With just under a minute remaining in the game, KSU Quarterback Michael Woods found Jordan Wilson on a 6-yard touchdown pass. The kick by Garcia made the final score 30-20. Panther Notables The three touchdown passes from quarterback Corey Jones to wide receiver Mortimer Lightburn are some of the best aerial performances in the history of CAU football. Jones was 15 of 34 with 235 yards on the day. Lightburn finished the game with six catches totaling 127 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, senior defensive end Curtis Johnson led all players with a total of 11 tackles. Three of the 11 tackles were losses. Senior linebacker Michael Porter also contributed 10 tackles and one quarterback sack. Senior Punter Brandon Larkin continued his dominance as the nation’s punt leader in NCAA Division II. On five punts, Larkin averaged an incredible 54.8 yards per punt. Four of his five punts landed inside the 20-yard line and his longest was a 74-yard effort. Return specialist Mario DeGracia had another steady performance. On four punt returns, DeGracia averaged 22 yards with a long of 44 yards. He also returned three kick-offs for a total of 70 yards with a long of 34 yards.

Johnson and Wooten Excel in Panther Loss By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Panthers (0–2, 0-1) made their 2007 season home debut in the Atlanta Labor Day Classic against the Wolves of University of West Georgia (UWG). Even with an impressive, offensive boost, the Panthers suffered their second loss of the season, 23 – 11. Defensive end Curtis Johnson mirrored his season opener antics tallying 14 tackles and four sacks. The senior led a Panther defense which strong-armed the UWG running attack by holding the Wolves to just 63-yards rushing. The offensive glow beamed from the Panthers’ attack due to the 100-yards in receiving by junior wide receiver Mikael Wooten. Wooten accounted for nearly half of CAU’s passing yards and is the first Panther receiver to gain 100-yards in a game in the last two years. Scoring Summary It would take the Wolves (1-0, 0-0) four plays and two minutes to cover 65-yards for the game’s first touchdown. Wolves’ quarterback Keats Baldwin connected with wide receiver Jimmy Howard for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Kicker Jared Guberman’s extra point gave UWG a 7-0 lead. Guberman would tack on six more points for the Wolves when he completed two field goals in the first and second quarter from 23 and 27 yards to build their score, 13 – 0. A Brandon Larkin 66-yard punt to the UWG two-yard line helped the Panther defense generate CAU’s first score of the game. Wolves’ running back Joey Harris would meet the entire Panther defensive line on the ensuing play for a team safety. The defensive effort would chip away at the UWG lead, making the score 13 – 2. The Panthers would cut the deficit further when kicker Henry Boynton connected on a 37-yard field goal. CAU would still trail, 13 – 5. The Wolves responded when Guberman duplicated a previous 23-yard field goal effort with just eight seconds remaining in the first half. UWG would take a 16-5 lead into the locker room. The Panthers’ offense would take control in the third quarter. After a defensive hold, the Panthers manufactured their first touchdown of the game after a nine-play, 80-yard drive. The drive was highlighted by quarterback Corey Jones connecting on back-to-back passes to Wooten for gains of 22 and 20 yards. Jones would then rumble into the end zone for a touchdown. After a failed two-point conversion, the score was 16 – 11. Once again, the Wolves answered the Panther score with a touchdown of their own. This time Baldwin connected with Howard for a 66-yard touchdown strike. The touchdown and a Guberman extra point secured the Wolves’ win, 23 – 11. Offensive High Points Sophomore running back Winston Thompson fell three yards short of the century mark, netting 97 yards on 23 attempts for 4.2 yards per carry average. Thompson also had four catches for 31 yards.

Game Summary – Page 2 The quarterback duo of Robert Coates and Corey Jones combined for 222 of the Panthers’ 334 yards. Coates completed 11 of 15 passes for 88 yards. Jones substituted for the junior quarterback and completed 11 of 23 for 134 yards. Jones also added a 10-yard rushing touchdown to his performance. One thing was certain; the bulk of the Panthers’ passing yards came through the dynamic play of Mikael Wooten. The junior wide receiver caught seven receptions for 106 yards. Defensive High Points The Panthers collectively held UWG star running back James Kennebrew to 61-yards rushing on 17 carries. Senior Curtis Johnson led all defenders with 14 tackles, seven for losses, four sacks and two pass breakups. Junior defensive tackle Richard Washington added four tackles and a sack to the defensive effort. Special Teams Spotlights Brandon Larkin led the unit with another spectacular performance. The senior punted five times for a 56.8 yard average. Larkin landed two inside the 20-yard line and booted a 66- yard punt for his longest of the day.

Despite Loss, Johnson, Porter, Jones, and Lightburn’s Performance Stellar By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Panthers (0–3, 0-1), in search of their first win of the 2007 season, were stifled on the road by the 2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champions, Alabama A&M University (AAMU). The Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0) would avenge a 1996, 20 – 13 triple-overtime loss to CAU in Louis Crews Stadium, defeating the Panthers 41 – 10. The defensive duo of middle linebacker, Michael “The Panther” Porter, and defensive end, Curtis Johnson, would answer the Division I team’s challenge. The seniors led all individual defensive stats with 11 tackles apiece. In addition, Johnson racked up three sacks with three quarterback hurries. Porter would add a blocked kick to the defensive effort. The offensive thrust was ignited with the one-two-punch combination of quarterback Corey Jones and wide receiver Mortimer Lightburn. Jones connected 12 out of 20 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown. The senior stayed in rhythm through most of the game, connecting five of his passes to Lightburn. The sophomore amassed 123 yards receiving from five receptions, catching one for a score. Scoring Summary The game started tumultuously for the Panthers when the Bulldogs went 73 yards on five plays for a score. A Ulysses Banks three-yard run and a Jeremy Licea point-after put Alabama A&M on the board first, 7 – 0. On the ensuing drive, it would take the Panthers only two plays for 69 yards to respond. Corey Jones connected a 61-yard touchdown pass to Mortimer Lightburn. Henry Boynton’s extra point tied the game, 7 – 7. The Bulldogs would tack on two more scores before the end of the first quarter. Banks’ four-yard run and Licea’s extra point would give the Bulldogs a 14 – 7 lead. On their next possession, Alabama A&M only needed one play to extend their lead. Rashad Johnson received a pass from Kelcy Luke for 65 yards and another score. Licea would boot the extra point to increase the lead, 21 – 7. After a scoreless second quarter, the Panthers chipped away at the lead with a 39-yard Boynton field goal. CAU would still trail with 12:31 left in the third quarter, 21 – 10. The Bulldogs, feeling the pressure, replied when Luke connected with wide receiver Nate Baxter for a 15-yard touchdown. Linebacker Michael Porter penetrated the middle and blocked Licea’s point effort. However, the Bulldogs still manufactured a 27 – 10 lead. Alabama A&M’s Kelcy Luke connected with his wide receivers for two more touchdowns. A 20-yard touchdown pass to Rashad Johnson at the end of the third and a 26-yard touchdown to receiver Charles Moody, midway through the fourth, would be the last of the end zone visits. Licea connected on both extra points, solidifying a Bulldog win 41 – 10. Offensive High Points Held motionless by the Bulldog defense in the second half, the Panthers appeared very competitive in the first. Quarterback Corey Jones completed 12 of 22 passes for 200 yards.

Jones threw the only CAU touchdown when he connected with sophomore, Mortimer Lightburn. Lightburn’s five receptions for 123 yards accounted for more than half of the Panthers’ 198 total offensive yards. Defensive High Points Panther defenders, Michael Porter and Curtis Johnson almost mirrored their performance. The seniors both finished with 11 tackles. Johnson would also add three sacks to the defensive effort. Junior Devon Shorter would add nine tackles and sophomore Paul Jackson would adjoin eight in the loss. Special Teams Spotlights Brandon Larkin would add to his All-America numbers on the year. The senior punted nine times, amassing 420 yards for a 46.7-yard average. Larkin settled four inside the 20-yard line and booted a 60-yard punt for his longest of the evening. Complementing Larkin’s “special” antics, Antwan Bell maximized his talents on kick-receiving duty. The junior returned three kicks for 106 yards with a long of 56 yards.

CAU Sports Information February 28, 2008

Lady Panthers Lasso Thorobrettes, Win Fourth Straight By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

The Lady Panthers (16-10, 12-7) added another victory to their winning streak, defeating the Kentucky State University (KSU) Thorobrettes (16-10, 13-6), 73-68. The win puts CAU on a four-game run and splits the regular season series with KSU. Shantrell Moss finished with her seventh 20-plus-point score this season, scoring 25. Moss also shined on the defensive side, adding four steals and two blocks to her impressive offense. Danielle Walker volleyed the offensive assault, shooting 60 percent from the floor, thereby adding 17 points and eight rebounds. Sheaywond Williams scored nine points but devoted her efforts to the boards, pulling in 13 rebounds, including ten on offense. Other notable performances from the Lady Panthers included: 11 points from Jessica Bryant’s 55 percent shooting and Jessica Wright’s contribution of eight points. The Lady Panthers jumped out of the gate hitting 48 percent of their shots from the floor in the first half. The Thorobrettes’ 43 percent shooting was not enough, as CAU concluded the half with a significant lead, 39-28. The Thorobrettes would pick up the pace in the second half, chipping away at the lead holding the Lady Panthers to 9 of 30 shooting for 30 percent. However, CAU would take hold of the late charge from KSU at the finish and seal the victory. The Lady Panthers have won six of their last ten games. They will conclude the regular season against Lane College on March 1st.

Track and field newcomers, Jalia Moody and Rahim Bradshaw led the Panthers in the season opener.

Panthers Open Season at TSU Indoor Invitational By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Men and Women’s Track and Field Teams sparked the 2008 season at the Tennessee State University (TSU) Indoor Invitational. The meet was held inside the Gentry Sports Complex, on the campus of TSU. The Panthers gave a strong showing, considering their last indoor competition was during the 2001 season. “My assistants decided that if we wanted to take this program to the next level, we had to add some indoor competitions to our schedule.” Head Coach Pamela Page said. “A lot of our athletes never competed indoors; we thought it would be a great experience for our younger runners. A meet like this prepares you for outdoor competition. We had a strong showing; we are considering adding two indoor meets to our 2009 schedule.” Spotlighting the Panthers’ performances were newcomers Jalia Moody and Rahim Bradshaw. Moody, a freshman, delivered the top performance for the women when she finished 11th out of a pool of 64 competitors in the 60-meter dash. Moody’s 7.91 clocking was two hundredths of a second shy of making the finals.

Highlighting the men’s performance was sophomore Rahim Bradshaw. Bradshaw finished in 12th place out of 44 runners in the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.85 seconds. Another notable performance came via the men’s 4x200-meter relay. The team of Rahim Bradshaw, Robert Keys, Mathew Parker and Rashad Grigsby finished sixth with a time of 1:37.96. The mark was less than three seconds shy of the winning time of 1:35.30. The Panthers will compete in the Tyrone Poole Classic in Fort Valley, Georgia, on February 23rd.

Panthers Fall Short in Season Opener

By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information After concluding the 2006 season with their best record in more than a decade, the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Football Team (0 -1, 0 – 1) had hopes of continuing that momentum in the 2007 season opener against the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU). Despite signs of an improved offense and the return of the nation’s number one defense, the Panthers were defeated by the Wildcats 13-10. The Panthers scored first in the conference match-up with a 33-yard, first-quarter field goal by Henry Boynton. FVSU (1 – 0, 1 – 0) answered with 3:03 left when Nate Randall connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Garret Williams. Jake Grubbs added the extra point to build the FVSU lead, 7-3. The Wildcats added to their lead just before the half on a Grubbs field goal with 2:33 remaining. At the intermission, FVSU led 10-3. To open the third quarter, CAU’s offense shifted gears behind the rushing attack of sophomore Winston Thompson, whose three-yard touchdown run with 8:49 remaining in the quarter, along with Boynton’s extra point, led to the only tie of the game (10-10). Thompson, a native of Miami, Florida, finished with an impressive 171 yards on 29 carries. The Panther defense was led by senior Curtis Johnson (DE), who finished with ten tackles and one sack. For his effort, Johnson was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Week. The 2006 NCAA Division II Defensive Statistical Champions held the Wildcats to just 209 total yards offense. However, a late 43-yard field goal by Grubbs in the fourth quarter sealed the 13-10 win for the Wildcats. Offensive High Points Running back Winston Thompson provided the offensive spark. The sophomore sensation tallied 171 yards rushing on 29 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, with one touchdown. Thompson added one reception for 14 yards to his impressive numbers. All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) offensive lineman Jonathan Didier, plus a young offensive line, battled for the line of scrimmage assisting the offense in netting 268 yards of total offense. The Panther passing attack totaled 116 yards behind quarterbacks Robert Coates and Corey Jones. Coates started the game and finished with four completions on ten attempts with one interception for 35 yards. In the second half, last year’s starter, Corey Jones, stepped in to connect on 7 of 17 passes totaling 85 yards with one interception. The receiving trio of Antwan Bell, Carlos Suggs and Mortimer Lightburn proved to be worthy targets. Suggs had four receptions for 43 yards. Bell also had four receptions for 33 yards. Lightburn finished with two receptions for 26 yards.

Game One Summary – Page 2 Defensive High Points The Panther defense provided shades of the famed CAU “Black Battalion of Death” by holding the Wildcats to under 100 yards rushing. Senior All–SIAC defensive end Curtis Johnson’s tenacious play and phenomenal ball pursuit assisted his campaign for All-American as he led all defenders with ten tackles (two for a loss), one sack and a pass break up. Junior defensive tackle Richard Washington was impressive with his four-tackle, one-sack performance. All Washington’s tackles were made in the backfield, resulting in lost yardage for the Wildcats. Linebackers Norris Milton and Paul Jackson provided the interior defense that held the Wildcats to less than four yards per play. Milton tallied 7 tackles, two for losses, and added one sack while Jackson had six tackles. The interior defense was supported by a strong effort by the Panther secondary defense. Strong safety Marques Dailey finished with seven tackles, while his defensive counterpart, free safety Devon Shorter, contributed five tackles. Cornerback Arthur Williams had the only Panther interception in the game. Special Team Highlights Two-time All-SIAC punter Brandon Larkin continued his exceptional efforts leading the special team units. Larkin boomed seven punts, including one for 56 yards and four inside the 20, averaging 42 yards per punt. Return specialist Mario DeGracia provided a lift to the special teams by returning six punts for 63 yards.

Contact Information: Charles Ward (404) 880-6685 cward@cau.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lady Panthers Register Impressive Season

After finishing the regular season on a five-game win streak, the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Women’s Basketball Team concluded the season, advancing to the third round of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament. After building momentum by winning their last seven games, the Lady Panthers would lose to the No. 1 ranked and the eventual 2007 – 2008 SIAC Tournament Champions, the Tuskegee University Lady Tigers in the semifinal round. The Lady Panthers finished their 2007-08 campaign with an 18 – 11 overall record, including a 13 – 7 conference record and an 11 – 3 home record. Their wins included regular season two-game conference sweeps of Kentucky State University, Benedict College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College and Lane College. The Lady Panthers also rallied to defeat nonconference teams Georgia Southwestern University, North Greenville University and Montevallo University. “This season was a tremendous turnaround and improvement from last year’s 5 – 22 record. I am very proud and appreciative of the effort our young ladies displayed on and off the court,” Head Coach Vanessa Moore said. We have indeed established a firm foundation for the future of Lady Panthers Basketball.” The Lady Panthers were led by notable performances throughout the season. Shantrell Moss ignited after a seven-game absence, scoring 20.1 points and pulling in 8.9 rebounds per game. Moss, a senior, manufactured seven double-doubles during the season while scoring 20 points or more in eight games. She led her team in points in 17 games, including scoring 30 points on two occasions against Albany State University (2/5/08) and Tuskegee University (3/8/08). Moss was named All-SIAC First Team.

Supporting Moss’s play was the all-around efforts of Danielle Walker. Walker completed the season averaging impressive stats, which included 12.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The junior guard finished the season third in the SIAC in steals averaging 2.68 per game. She would finish number one in the 3-point field-goal percentage category, shooting .415 from behind the arch. Leading the team on the boards was Sheaywond Williams. The junior led the team in rebounds when calculating all 29 games with a 7.1 per game average while contributing 4.5 points per game. Williams led the team in the statistical category in ten games. Receiving SIAC All-Academic Honors was junior, Mary Walker, a psychology major, currently with a 3.64 grade point average. Even with the offensive power, the Lady Panthers collectively were ranked among the top three in four defensive categories. As a team, they were ranked second in field-goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to .346 percent. They also rank second in 3-point field goals defended, holding the opposition to .247 percent. The Lady Panthers were ranked third in blocked shots and steals. They totaled 162 blocks for 5.59 per game and volleyed the defensive pressure with 334 steals, giving them an 11.52 per game average. Brittany Bell led the team’s individual block statistics, averaging 2.21 per game.

Contact: Charles Ward (404) 880-6685 cward@cau.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2007

CAU’S THOMPKINS TOWERS TO THE TOP OF THE NCAA RANKS

ATLANTA, GA – Clark Atlanta University’s (CAU) Department of Athletics announced today that junior middle blocker Maegan Thompkins has finished the regular season ranked number two in the nation in blocks per game according to the National Collegiate Athletic Associations (NCAA) 2007 Women’s Volleyball Division II season statistics. Thompkins averaged 1.680851 blocks per game.

With this ranking, along with her regular season performance, Thompkins could become the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) athlete to be selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-America Team. Thompkins led the nation in blocks per game during the week of October 28th. Henderson State’s Edith Musebe finished ranked number one by the narrowest of margins, 1.683168 per game average.

In addition to her national ranking, Thompkins led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in total blocks with 158. The 6’2, Inglewood, California native finished second in the SIAC in hitting percentage (.330) with 146 kills (1.55 per game) during the regular season. At the conclusion of the campaign, Thompkins was named the 2007 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the All-SIAC Team.

“She is a phenomenal player who gives a tremendous amount of effort every time she is on the court,” said CAU Volleyball Head Coach, Ricardo Wheatley, “She deserves the recognition and the accolades for her devotion to hard work and her leadership.”

CAU Men’s Cross-Country team finishes second

overall in the Oglethorpe University Cross-Country

Men’s Cross-Country Captures Second Place at Oglethorpe Classic By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information The Clark Atlanta University Men’s Cross-Country Team continues to improve with a strong performance at the Oglethorpe University Cross-Country Fall Classic. The five- man squad placed second overall in the team standings with 78 points in the 8k competition, giving them their highest regular season finish in three years. “We have a young squad and with every competition, you can see their improving,” Head Coach Pamela Page said. “This meet was a confidence booster, we want to build physically and mentally just in time for the conference championship.” The Panther runners were led by junior Brandon Miller, who finished seventh overall with a time of 31:37.00 in the 8k. Sophomore Miles Gaddy finished tenth overall and was the second team finisher with a personal best time of 32:01.00. Sophomore Samson Berha’ finished 11th overall and third on the team with a time of 32:58.00. Senior Mathew Parker finished fourth on the team and 24th overall, and sophomore Rashad Grigsby was the fifth scorer finishing 26th in the 8k. The running Panthers will compete in the 2nd Annual CAU/MHC Cross-Country Invitational on September 29th.

Women Finish Second, Men Third in the CAU/MHC Cross-Country Classic By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Men and Women’s Cross-Country Teams continue to build momentum with sterling performances in the 2nd Annual CAU/MHC Cross-Country Classic. Both teams received plaques for their efforts. The men finished third in the Division II 8k pool and fifth overall with a score of 85. The women would exhibit their best performance of the season, finishing second among Division II schools and fourth overall, scoring 52 points in the 5k competition. “One of our objectives this season is to improve our time every meet. It’s great to see such a young team remain consistent week after week,” Head Coach Pamela Page said. “Eight of our ten runners finished with a personal best time. That kind of effort and competitiveness is what we need to fuel our performances in the latter part of the season.” Sophmore Miles Gaddy, junior Brandon Miller, sophomore Samson Berhe and senior Matthew Parker finished with personal bests. The women would mirror their Panther counterparts with four runners finishing with personal records. Sophomore Phyllis Shelman-Ford, junior Khanesia Hill, sophomore Shkina Halbert, and senior Christen Clarke would run their fastest time in collegiate competition. Gaddy led the Panthers, finishing first on the team and 10th in the Division II standings with a time of 30:13.68. Brandon Miller finished 13th and was the second finisher for the team with a 30:58.75 mark. Finishing third in team scoring and 15th in the Division II pool was Samson Berhe with a time of 31:15.92. Matthew Parker finished 24th and Jimmy Hendrix completed the team scoring, finishing 27th. Phyllis Shelman-Ford would lead all Lady Panther runners with a second-place finish and a time of 23:15.29. Finishing second on the team and fifth overall was Khanesia Hill with a time of 23:54.34. Freshman Wendi Gardner was the team’s third highest, placing eighth overall with a time of 24:16.16. Shkina Halbert was the fourth team scorer, finishing 18th overall, and Christen Clarke finished fifth on the team with a 19th place finish. The Panthers will compete in the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Invitational on October 10th.

CAU Sports Information

February 20, 2008

Five Panthers Score Double Digits, CAU Gallops Pass Thorobreds By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

After a two-game skid, the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Men’s Basketball Team (13-13, 12-9) jumped back on pace, shooting 47 percent from the field to defeat Kentucky State University (KSU), 78-71. Five Panthers tabbed double digits, and team defense in the last minutes of the game became a critical factor as CAU avenged an early season loss to the Thorobreds (12-14, 11-10). Coshune Bingham shot 8 of 11 to lead all scorers with a season-high 19 points. Najee Lane and Ale Burt added 12 points apiece, while Kevin Johnson and Jelani Heath both contributed 11 to the scoring frenzy. In the first half, the Panthers shot 43 percent from the field while holding KSU to 39 percent from the floor. Bingham and Heath both scored eight points to help the Panthers take the lead at the half, 28 – 27. CAU opened the second half with scoring spurts that kindled great shooting from the field. The Panthers took advantage, shooting 50 percent from the floor and 83 percent from the free-throw stripe. Johnson, who was left scoreless in the first half, scored all his 11 points during the game’s last minutes. Bingham played the go-to role matching Johnson with 11 of his own. The Panthers will face Lane College next in the season finale.

CAU Sports Information

February 23, 2008

CAU Loses Second Straight to FVSU, 72-67 By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

With hopes of getting back on a winning streak, the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Panthers (12-13, 11-9) were held short of victory. Despite the aggressive play from tip-off to the second-half buzzer, the Panthers were defeated by the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Wildcats, 72-67. Coshune Bingham shot 50 percent from the floor on his way to a double-double, scoring 11 points while hauling in 12 rebounds. Najee Lane led all scorers, hitting seven out of 15 for 17 points. Kevin Johnson helped lead the way during the first half, scoring eight of his 10 points. The Panthers shot 32 percent from the floor, while FVSU countered making 40 percent of their shots from the floor. Even with an inferior first-half field-goal percentage, the Panthers would conclude the half leading, 33-32. The Panthers’ shooting woes continued in the second half as they connected 37 percent of their shots. The Wildcats found new life in the last half, shooting 52 percent from the field and 84 percent from the free-throw line. The loss would leave the Panthers winless against FVSU this season.

CAU Sports Information February 18, 2008

CAU Last Second Miracle Hexes Magicians, Panthers Win in OT, 92 - 83 By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Men’s Basketball Team (12-11, 11-7) did not succumb to the tricks of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s number two ranked team. The Panthers, however, left the LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) Magicians (13-11, 13-6) spellbound when freshman Najee Lane banked a half-court three-point buzzer beater at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime en route to a 92 – 83 CAU victory. Kevin Johnson led all scorers with a 29-point performance. The junior guard was one free throw shy of perfection. Johnson’s 11 of 12 from the stripe helped the Panthers hit 80 percent of their free throws. In the shadow of Johnson’s 12 first-half points, the Panthers shot a mere 25 percent from the field. They concluded the half trailing 32 – 26. In the second half, the Panthers increased their baskets made, shooting 41 percent from the floor. The Panthers hacked away at the Magicians’ lead hitting 18 of 22 free throws. In addition, defense would play a factor in the comeback charge. Garry Beverly would lead the Panther “D” with five block shots. The junior center hauled in nine rebounds to go with his eight points. Senior Ale Burt and freshman Najee Lane would complement Johnson’s 14 second-half points with double-digit scoring of their own. Burt finished with a double-double performance scoring 10 of his 17 points in the half, while grabbing a game-leading 13 rebounds. Lane’s 19 points, including a desperation three-point shot to send the game into overtime, supported the CAU scoring runs. The Panthers would find themselves in the same situation as in their previous two games--in overtime. In addition to holding the Magicians to eight points in extra play, the Panthers’ 100 percent field-goal shooting (4-4) and 75 percent free-throw percentage (9-12) in overtime helped seal the victory. The win marks the Panthers’ third straight overtime victory.

CAU Sports Information

February 20, 2008

Panthers’ Win Streak Snapped, Loses to Miles College, 70 - 61 By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

After winning three straight overtime games, the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Men’s Basketball Team (12-12, 11-8) had hopes of adding a fourth to the streak. However, the Golden Bears (14-10, 12-7) of Miles College (MC) would diminish the thought, defeating the Panthers, 70-61. Despite the loss, notable performances provided a bright spot among the Panther regime. Senior Ale Burt scored 15 points and added seven rebounds in the contest. Freshman Najee Lane and sophomore Jourdain Blackmon added some fire power to the assault, both shooting 50 percent from the floor. Lane tallied 16 points with seven rebounds, and Blackmon complemented his backcourt mate, one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 15 points and hauling in nine rebounds. The first-half shooting of CAU was uncharacteristic. The Panthers’ 26 percent shooting from the field was not enough to match the Golden Bears’ 47 percent. At the half, the Panthers trailed by twelve, 37-25. In the last half, the Panthers’ defensive pressure made the difference. The Golden Bears only connected eight shots from the field, while the Panthers countered with 14 made baskets of their own. Through the course of the half, the Panthers would make numerous scoring runs, shooting 40 percent from the perimeter. Their defensive pressure, however, incurred 21 visits to the free-throw line by the Golden Bears. As a result, MC shot 82 percent from the stripe. The Panthers have won three out of their last five games.

CAU Sports Information

February 20, 2008

CAU Declaws Lady Golden Bears, Wins in OT Nail-biter, 55 - 53 By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

For the second straight game, the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Lady Panthers Basketball Team (14-10, 10-7) held off the comeback efforts of their opponent, defeating the Lady Golden Bears (15-8, 11-6) of Miles College (MC), 55-53. With the win, The Lady Panthers nab another regular season sweep and second straight overtime victory. Stacking another double-double performance and making a strong campaign for the SIAC Most Valuable Player Award was first year player Shantrell Moss. Moss led all players in scoring, tallying 19 points, which included 12 for 14 shooting from the free- throw stripe. Moss pulled in ten rebounds to complement her strong offensive performance. Danielle Walker would add another stellar performance, scoring 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Junior Sheaywond Williams dominated the boards, hauling in 14 rebounds (nine offensive rebounds) to lead all players for the second straight game. Both teams played excellent defense in the first half, holding each other to 37 percent from the field. The Lady Panthers would edge MC in the offensive due to a 75 percent free-throw average. The Lady Panthers would walk into the locker room at halftime, 28 – 24. The second half mirrored the first in regard to execution and determination. The slugfest in regulation ended with the Lady Panthers taking advantage of their trips to the stripe, again hitting 75 percent of their free throws in the half. At the buzzer the score was tied, 47-47. In overtime, the importance of free throws became significant when the Lady Panthers negated a 17 percent field-goal percentage by connecting all free throws, six for six. The Lady Panthers’ defense added an intricate ploy, holding the Golden Lady Bears to one of eight from the field for a 17-percent average in extra play.

CAU Cross-Country Shows Promise in Season Opener By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Men and Women’s Cross-Country Teams opened the 2007 cross-country season in fine fashion at the Mercer University Atlanta Cross- Country Invitational. The men’s team finished sixth in the team standings with 169 points. Sophomore Miles Gaddy defeated all Southeastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) competitors and was the first Panther finisher in the 6-kilometer race. Out of 72 competitors, Gaddy finished 29th overall with a time of 24:17.94. Washington State transfer Samson Berhe made a strong debut in the Panther black and red, finishing 40th overall. The sophomore was second in team scoring with a time of 24:47.87. Junior and returning letterman Brandon Miller was the third Panther finisher, completing the race with a time of 24:55.04, placing 41st overall. Women’s runner Wendi Gardner led the Lady Panthers and all SIAC runners, finishing 30th out of a pool of 79. The freshman completed the 5-kilometer run with a time of 25:57.77. “It’s great to see freshmen and sophomores come prepared. When you have young runners contributing, it makes you extremely excited about the rest of the season,” Head Coach Pamela Page said. “We definitely want to unleash our young talent. They are the future of this program; we want them to feel comfortable and get them acclimated to the system as early as possible.” The Panthers will compete in the Georgia State Invitational on September 15th.

CAU Sports Information February 16, 2008

Panthers Sweep Season Cross-Campus Rivalry, Defeats Morehouse in OT, 85 - 77 By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

Panther fans can now exhale exuberantly, especially after gasping in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. A Kevin Townley layup at the buzzer in regulation would help put the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Panthers (11-11, 10-7) on the path to defeat rivals, the Maroon Tigers (11-12, 8-11) of Morehouse College (MHC) in overtime, 85 - 77. Freshman, Najee Lane’s 27 points led all scorers and helped the Panthers to their second straight win. The victory solidified the season sweep of the cross-campus rivalry. Lane was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, hitting nine of ten shots from the stripe. His free throws in overtime played an intricate factor. CAU shot 11 for 28, 39 percent from the field, in the first half and trailed going into the locker room, 31 – 27. Ale Burt’s three-pointers helped spark a couple of Panther runs in the second half. The senior connected three out of four shots from the arch, scoring 15 points and hauling in eight rebounds. Junior Kevin Johnson complemented Burt’s performance with 19 points. The Panthers shot 47 percent from the floor in the second half to counter the Maroon Tigers’ 48 percent field-goal percentage. To help nullify the difference, junior Garry Beverly led the defensive effort with four blocks to go along with his 75 percent field- goal percentage (six points, 3-4 FG). Beverly led all players in the rebound category with nine boards. Late in the second half, the Panthers would chisel away at a five-point lead with less than a minute on the clock. Down by two points, with three seconds remaining in the game, Lane’s down court in-bound pass for Townley’s only score would tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, free throws and defense were the deciding factors. The Panthers held Morehouse to 30 percent shooting from the field and would capitalize from the free-throw line, scoring all twenty of their overtime points from the stripe. The victory was the Panthers’ second straight overtime win.

CAU Sports Information February 18, 2008

Lady Panthers Hold On to Win in OT, 68-66

By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Women’s Basketball Team (13-10, 9-7) diffused a charged-up LeMoyne-Owens College (LOC) team to sweep the season series and capture the win in overtime, 68-66. Shantrell Moss led the Lady Panthers shooting 58 percent from the floor, including six of seven free throws, scoring 28 points while hauling in eight rebounds. In the first half, Moss scored 14 points to complement the team’s 31 percent field-goal shooting. The Lady Panthers collectively shot 78 percent from the free throw line to help take the lead at the conclusion of the first half, 31-28. In the second half the Lady Panthers would grapple with the Magicians (5-21, 4-15) holding them to 36 percent shooting from the field. Despite the defensive pressure, the Magicians stayed afloat, courtesy of their 82 percent free-throw shooting in the half. Juniors, Sheaywond Williams and Danielle Walker would come up big in the wake of the closing minutes. Williams hauled in critical rebounds to add to her game total of 14 to lead all players, and Walker’s nine second-half points helped ease the scoring tension. Walker finished with 19 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor. In overtime, both teams would take advantage of opportunities. However, the Lady Panthers capitalized on the Magicians’ critical turnovers to hold them off in extra play. The victory would mark the Lady Panthers’ fourth win in five games.

CAU Sports Information

February 23, 2008

Lady Panthers Bag Wildcats for Third Straight Win By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information

With the season coming to an end, the Lady Panthers (15-10, 11-7) of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) continue to build the momentum with their third straight win defeating the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Wildcats (17-9, 14-5), by the score of 73-70. Three Lady Panthers scored in the double digits to help avenge a loss to FVSU early this month and tie the season series with one game apiece. New comer Shantrell Moss manufactured her ninth double-double of the season scoring 24 points (9-19 field goals) while hauling in ten rebounds. Moss assisted in the defensive effort with two blocked shots and three steals. Juniors Karla Westmore and Danielle Walker aided in the Lady Panthers’ assault combining for 30 points. Walker scored 17 points including three 3-point baskets. Westmore helped lift the team with 13 points (6-11 field goals) and seven rebounds. In the first half of play, both teams executed offensively, exchanging the lead. FVSU shot 15 for 31, including three out of four from three-point range, for a 48 percent average. The Lady Panthers answered offensively, hitting 44 percent from the floor while shooting 67 percent from the free-throw line. As a result of the Lady Wildcats’ 83 percent free-throw shooting, the Lady Panthers trailed at the game break, 43 – 41. After halftime, the Lady Panthers’ defensive game plan took a turn for the best. In the second half, The Lady Panthers’ defense erupted to extinguish the Lady Wildcats’ fiery first-half scoring. CAU held FVSU to 18 percent field-goal shooting in the last half. Walker, Westmore, and Moss combined for 23 of 32 second-half points to help maintain the victory.

Photo by: Oscar Daniels Photo by: Oscar Daniels

Senior quarterback, Corey Jones throws for Sophomore wide receiver, Mortimer Lightburn one of his three touchdowns. hauls in one of his three touchdowns.

Cau Duo Sparkles But Thorobreds Still Gallop Past Panthers

The Panthers of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) entered Saturday’s gridiron match-up with Kentucky State University (KSU) with hopes of mounting the Thorobreds and riding to their first win of the football season. What happened instead was the Thorobreds jumped out of the scoring gates early, held on down the stretch, and came away with a 30-20 win. Although the teams finished with only two yards separating them in total offense (CAU finished with 276 total yards and KSU finished with 278 yards), the difference in the game came down to execution. While the Thorobreds committed only one turnover in the contest (a fumble), the Panthers proved to be their own worst enemy in the game by committing a total of five turnovers. The four interceptions and one fumble by the Panther offense were simply too much to overcome. With only 1:14 elapsing off the clock, the Thorobreds got the first score of the game. After a quick-hitting, three-play, 78-yard drive, Andrew Ramsey went the final distance of four yards to cap the drive with the touchdown run. Add the extra point by Mauricio Garcia and the Thorobreds had a 7-0 lead. The first interception by the Panthers came near the 9:00 mark in the second quarter and would be the most costly for CAU. Melvin Thomas picked off a Corey Jones pass at the 32-yard line and returned it 68 yards for the Thorobred touchdown. Garcia connected on the point after KSU extended its lead to 14-0.

Page 2 Undaunted by the interception, the Panthers used their aerial to climb right back into the game before half-time. With 5:22 remaining in the first half, Jones found his favorite receiving target, Mortimer Lightburn, on a 33-yard passing route that did not finish until Lightburn touched the end zone. The touchdown strike was the exclamation point on an eight-play, 54-yard drive that consumed 3:36. Reliable Henry Boynton converted on the extra point, and the Thorobred lead was now trimmed to 14-7. The Jones-to-Lightburn combination would create another spark for CAU just before half-time. This time, a six-play, 79-yard march by the Panthers reached its climax when Jones delivered a touchdown pass to Lightburn from 28 yards away. Although the extra- point attempt was blocked, CAU had tightened the reigns on the Thorobred lead, which was now 14-13 at half-time. After the intermission, the Thorobreds appeared to regain their stride. In the third quarter Mauricio Garcia converted a 35-yard field goal to take the Thorobred lead to 17-13. After holding the Panthers scoreless in the third quarter, the Thorobreds struck again with 12:53 left in the game. An eight-play, 70-yard drive ended with Andrew Ramsey’s second touchdown of the game. This time, he scored from 3 yards away. After a great surge from the Panther Defensive Line, the extra-point attempt was blocked. The Thorobred lead was 23-13. With 7:19 left in the game, The CAU duo of Jones and Lightburn would strike again. The 15-yard pass and catch resulted in a desperately needed CAU touchdown. Boynton’s extra-point attempt was good and the Thorobreds had a 23-20 lead. While that would be the last Panther score of the game, the Thorobreds had one more left. With just under a minute remaining in the game, KSU Quarterback Michael Woods found Jordan Wilson on a 6-yard touchdown pass. The kick by Garcia made the final score 30-20. Panther Notables The three touchdown passes from quarterback Corey Jones to wide receiver Mortimer Lightburn are some of the best aerial performances in the history of CAU football. Jones was 15 of 34 with 235 yards on the day. Lightburn finished the game with six catches totaling 127 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, senior defensive end Curtis Johnson led all players with a total of 11 tackles. Three of the 11 tackles were losses. Senior linebacker Michael Porter also contributed 10 tackles and one quarterback sack. Senior Punter Brandon Larkin continued his dominance as the nation’s punt leader in NCAA Division II. On five punts, Larkin averaged an incredible 54.8 yards per punt. Four of his five punts landed inside the 20-yard line and his longest was a 74-yard effort. Return specialist Mario DeGracia had another steady performance. On four punt returns, DeGracia averaged 22 yards with a long of 44 yards. He also returned three kick-offs for a total of 70 yards with a long of 34 yards.

Contact: Charles Ward (404) 880-6685 cward@cau.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 7, 2007

Jennifer Holman Maegan Thompkins

HOLMAN AND THOMPKINS VOTED BEST IN SIAC VOLLEYBALL

ATLANTA, GA – Clark Atlanta University (CAU) volleyball players Jennifer Holman and Maegan Thompkins have received double postseason honors from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) for their play during the 2007 season.

Senior Jennifer Holman capped her final campaign at CAU by being selected as the SIAC’s Offensive Player of the Year and with a selection to First-Team All-SIAC. The Edmond, Oklahoma native finished the regular season ranked third in the conference in kills with a team-leading total of 310. The outside hitter was fourth in the SIAC and second on the team in digs with 246. She also had 59 blocks during the season. The All-SIAC Team selection was the third consecutive for Holman.

Middle Blocker Maegan Thompkins was one of the best in the nation in 2007. The junior from Inglewood, California, finished second in the nation (Division II) in blocks per game with a 1.68 average. She also led the SIAC in blocks with a total of 158. Affectionately known as “The Tower,” Thompkins had 146 kills on the regular season and she finished second in the conference in hitting percentage (33%).

For her effort in 2007, Thompkins was voted Defensive Player of the Year for the SIAC and she was named to the All-SIAC Team (2nd Team).

Junior Brandon Miller and sophomore Miles Gaddy lead the Panthers at the start.

Injury Cripples Panthers’ Chance for Win By: Zena Lewis, CAU Sports Information With a five-man squad, the Clark Atlanta University Men’s Cross-Country team faced their worst fear of the season. As a result of junior Brandon Miller’s sustaining an injury during the race, the Panthers were left with four runners and were unable to score as a team in the Georgia State University Invitational. Rules state that a cross-country team must have at least five runners complete the race to score as an entire team. Miller went down with a sprained ankle midway through the third mile of the 8-kilometer race. Sophomore Miles Gaddy led the remaining Panther runners with a time of 32:11.00. Samson Berhe finished close behind CAU’s front runner with a mark of 32:22.39. Sophomore Rashad Grigsby finished the course with a time of 36:54.72, and senior Matthew Parker followed with a 38:42.14 clocking. “We are going to have to remain tough throughout the season,” Head Coach Pamela Page said. “We are shorthanded, and we realize that it’s another obstacle in our way. Our runners are strong, young and determined to complete the season in good standings.” The Panthers will compete in the Oglethorpe University Cross-Country Fall Classic on September 22nd.