Lady Tigers Down Wake Forest, 75-68, In Women’s Basketball Action

Jan. 15, 2006

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson Lady Tigers converted 20 of 21 free throws, including eight straight down the stretch, to secure a 75-68 victory over Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon. Maxienne White held Clemson’s high-scorer honors for the third consecutive game with 19 against the Demon Deacons, helping the Lady Tigers to their eighth win of the season.

The victory also evened Clemson at two wins and two losses in conference games, while the loss dropped Wake Forest to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in the ACC.

Four total Lady Tigers scored in double figures as Tasha Phillips added 18 points, Amanda Frist had 13 and Julie Talley contributed 10. White also pulled down 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double game of the season.

Cotelia Bond-Young led all scorers with 25 for the Demon Deacons, while Deirdre Naughton added 18 in the effort.

Wake Forest jumped out to a quick 8-2 advantage before Clemson went up at 10-8 on a White lay-up. The Demon Deacons reclaimed the lead on a three by Bond-Young at 15-14, but Talley answered with a three of her own to put the Lady Tigers ahead at the 9:40 mark. However, Clemson was able to distance itself from Wake Forest and the Deacs knotted the score at 22-22 with 4:49 remaining in the period. The Lady Tigers were then able to pull ahead and took a 36-27 advantage, their largest of the half, into the break.

Clemson extended its lead to 13 points early in the second period at 43-30, but the Demon Deacons scored nine straight points to cut the lead to four. Wake Forest took a 48-47 advantage on a three-pointer by Naughton and went up by as many as eight points with just under six minutes remaining in the game.

The Lady Tigers narrowed the gap to five, 61-56, on a three-point play by Frist and then again at 63-58 with two Tasha Taylor free throws. A lay-up by Taylor put Clemson within one point and Talley hit a three to give the Lady Tigers a 65-63 lead with 2:23 remaining. A Frist lay-up at the 1:52 mark was Clemson’s last field goal before the Lady Tigers converted eight straight points from the foul line. Phillips drained four to put Clemson ahead, 71-65, before Alex Tchangoue hit a three-pointer for Wake Forest’s final points of the afternoon. Talley and White each made two free throws with less than 15 seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Lady Tigers.

Clemson’s next game will be on the road against the Florida State Seminoles on Thursday, Jan. 19 in Tallahassee, FL. The Lady Tigers will return to Littlejohn Coliseum on Jan. 26 when they will face the Duke Blue Devils in a 7:00 PM contest.