Clemson Advances In NCAAs

March 16, 2001

CINCINNATI, OH – Nuria Forns hit two free throws with 0.8 seconds left in leading Clemson to a 51-49 win over Tennessee-Chattanooga in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH Friday night.

Clemson is 21-9 overall, while Tennessee-Chattanooga drops to 24-7 this season.

Clemson is ranked 19th in the USA Today poll and 22nd in the Associated Press listing.

Tennessee-Chattanooga was leading 47-46 with 1:35 left to go in the game as Damita Bullock hit two free throws. Nuria Forns hit a three-point shot to put the Lady Tigers ahead 49-47 with 1:29 remaining. Bullock tied the score 49-49 with a 10-foot field goal. Clemson turned the ball over with :30 seconds left trying to inbound the ball. Bullock tried a shot from the left side but the ball rebounded to the right side. Forns rebounded the ball and was fouled on the play by Tishay Lewis with 0.8 seconds left. Forns converted both free throws to give the Lady Tigers the win.

Forns led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 16 points. Erin Batth had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Lady Tigers for her 11th double-double of the season. Damita Bullock led the Lady Mocs with 19 points. Tennessee-Chattanooga won the battle of the boards, 39-37. Clemson finished the game 20-58 from the field for a .345 figure. Tennessee-Chattanooga shot 19-55 from the floor for a .345 mark.

Clemson will play the winner Xavier-Louisville game on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH.

The Lady Mocs took the lead with 10:05 left to go in the first half. From this point Tennessee-Chattanooga led the remainder of the game until Clemson took a one-point lead 41-40 with 5:00 left. The Lady Mocs took a four-point lead 45-41 with 3:29 left. Clemson took a one- point lead, 46-45 after Forns scored a field goal and Batth hit a free throw completing a three-point play with 1:48 left. Bullock hit two free throws putting the Lady Mocs ahead by one, 47-46. Forns hit a three-point goal to give the Lady Tigers a 49-47 lead with 1:29 left. Bullock tied the score, 49-49 with :59 seconds remaining. Forns sealed the win with the two free throws.

Clemson is making its 13th appearance in the last 14 NCAA Tournaments under Head Coach Jim Davis. The Lady Tigers are making their 14th appearance overall having played in the inaugural tournament in 1982. “I told Tennessee-Chattanooga’s Coach, Wes Moore I hated to win the game that way,” said Clemson Head Coach Jim Davis. “I feel as if I am the luckiest coach on the face of the earth tonight. I give Chattanooga all the credit they are well coached and they were well prepared for this game. I feel the key to the game was Krystal Scott breaking down the defense with her drives to the basket and her ability to penetrate and find an open player. We need to be a better passing team. I thought our ball movement was not good tonight.”