Tigers Drop ACC Tournament Quarterfinal Matchup to Top-Seed Duke, 60-46

Duluth, Ga. – The clock now ticks to Selection Sunday after nine-seed Clemson women’s basketball (21-11, 11-7 ACC) ended its ACC Tournament run with a 60-46 loss against top-seeded Duke (22-8, 16-2 ACC) at Gas South Arena on Friday. 

Senior guard Mia Moore led the Tigers on offense with 17 points and four rebounds in 37 minutes. Taylor Johnson-Matthews added 12 points to go along with three boards. Rachael Rose led the Tigers with five assists, her second straight game and her third game this season, dishing out five-plus. On the glass, graduate forward Demeara Hinds pulled down eight rebounds, four of which came on the offensive side. Hadley Periman grabbed six of her own as the Tigers outrebounded Duke 37-35. Defensively, Clemson held the Blue Devils to just 38.7% from the field, their second-lowest field goal percentage against an ACC opponent this season.

Duke was led by Toby Fournier, who registered a double-double and led the team in both points (17) and rebounds (10).

HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
After a close first quarter, the Blue Devils exploded for a 20-2 run that spanned the final seven minutes of the second quarter and the first three minutes of the third. Clemson would fight back in the second half, outscoring Duke in each of the final two frames, but the 19-point halftime deficit proved insurmountable.

HEAD COACH SHAWN POPPIE SAID

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• For the 19th time this season, Clemson has held its opponent to 60 points or fewer.
• Junior guard/forward Rusne Augustinaite tied Spray (2019-20) for the most single-season 3PM in program history (80). 
• Clemson’s record in the ACC Tournament moved to 38-47.
• The Tigers’ record in the ACC Tournament as a 9-Seed falls to 2-4.
• CU’s record in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament moved to 18-14.
• Clemson now holds a record of 7-3 vs. Duke in the ACC Tournament.
• The Tigers are now 5-4 when donning the orange jerseys.
• Clemson now trails the all-time series with Duke, 45-35.
• Hinds recorded a season-high with three steals.
• Moore (17 points) notched her 23rd game this season with double-digit points. 
• Johnson-Matthews (12 points) eclipsed double figures for the 16th time this season. 

UP NEXT

Clemson awaits its fate in the NCAA Tournament, as the Tigers are currently projected as a 10-seed in the Big Dance. The 2026 NCAA DI Women’s Basketball March Madness bracket will be revealed during the Selection Show on Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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