Clemson, S.C. – Clemson women’s basketball (19-9, 10-6 ACC) pulled off the upset over No. 9/13 Duke (20-7, 15-1 ACC), 53-51. A Hannah Kohn three-pointer gave the Tigers a 53-51 lead with 3.1 seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbound play, Taylor Johnson-Matthews tipped the pass to run out the clock and give Duke its first ACC loss of the season.
The Tigers were led on offense by graduate forward Demeara Hinds, who overcame two fouls in the first quarter to score 13 points (4-5 FG, 5-6 FT) and grab eight rebounds, three of which came on the offensive glass and led to four second-chance points. Senior guard Mia Moore had 11 points and six assists, including the and-one that gave the Tigers their first lead of the game with 3:25 in the final frame, and led the team in both assists (six) and steals (three). Johnson-Matthews had 11 points of her own to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Senior center Morgan Lee made her first three-pointer of the season to end a 22-4 Blue Devil run in the second quarter and scored a season-high five points.
The Blue Devils were led by Toby Fournier. A member of the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team, Fournier scored 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks, but was held scoreless for the final frame with her final basket coming with 5:40 remaining in the third.
THE WIN NOW MEANS…..
HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDEDThe Tigers found themselves in a hole early, as Duke rattled off a 22-4 lead after Clemson scored the game’s first four points. A 12-point Duke lead was trimmed to six at halftime, but the Blue Devils outscored the Tigers 10-7 in the third, and Clemson headed into the final quarter trailing 39-30. In the fourth quarter, the Tigers clawed back and got themselves in striking distance down only two with 3:50 remaining. An and-one from Moore gave Clemson its first lead of the day going up 44-43 with 3:25 left in the game, and Johnson-Matthews nailed a three-pointer to stretch the lead to four and punctuate a 17-4 run. The two teams would trade baskets through the next three minutes and Clemson found themselves down one with just 9.5 seconds remaining. Moore caught the pass on the inbounds and drove down the lane to draw an extra defender. In the chaos, the Blue Devil defense lost Kohn, who popped out to the top of the key, caught the pass from Moore, and buried the dagger with 3.1 seconds remaining. A tipped pass from Johnson-Matthews drained the last three seconds off the clock and didn’t allow Duke to get up a last shot. Thanks to the Tigers outscoring the Blue Devils 23-12 in the fourth quarter and clutch plays from Moore, Kohn and Johnson-Matthews, Clemson secured its first ranked win of the season, downing the Blue Devils 53-51.
HEAD COACH SHAWN POPPIE SAID
HANNAH KOHN & MIA MOORE POSTGAME ON-COURT INTERVIEW
HANNAH KOHN POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW
COACH POPPIE POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW
HIGHLIGHTS
NOTABLE NUMBERS
UP NEXTClemson heads to the West Coast, where the Tigers will conclude the regular season at Cal. (Thursday, Feb. 26 at 10 p.m. EST) and at Stanford (Sunday, Mar. 1 at 2 p.m. EST).
TICKETSFans can purchase women’s basketball tickets by calling 1-800-CLEMSON or at ClemsonTigers.com/Tickets/.
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