Clemson Defeats Georgia Tech, 59-47

Feb. 19, 2004

Clemson, SC-Amanda White scored a season high 15 points off the bench and Lakeia Stokes added 14 points in a starting role, as Clemson defeated Georgia Tech 59-47 Thursday night in women’s basketball action at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum. The victory ended a five-game losing streak for the Lady Tigers and improved Jim Davis’s team to 16-8 overall, 6-7 in the ACC. Georgia Tech, who entered the game on a two-game winning streak, fell to 13-12 overall, 4-9 in the ACC.

Clemson will now play at Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM. Clemson has one more home game remaining, against Maryland on February 29. White reached double figures for the first time since the last meeting with Georgia Tech, a 76-61 victory in Atlanta in January. It was just her fifth double figure scoring game of the season.

Similar to the Clemson vs. NC State men’s game the previous evening in the same facility, defense won the game for the Clemson women on Thursday. Georgia Tech shot just 17-70 from the field against Clemson’s zone, including 4-36 from three-point range. The 36 three-point attempts by Tech were the most ever attempted against a Clemson team. The 32 misses were the most three point attempts missed by a Clemson opponent. The three-point goal dates to the 1986-87 season.

The previous night, the NC State men shot 6-37 from three-point range in the same facility against the Clemson men’s team. The 31 missed threes were the second most missed three-point goal attempts ever against Clemson, most ever in Littlejohn Coliseum.

Georgia Tech shot just 24.3 percent from the field, worst against Clemson this year. Ironically, the previous best field goal percentage defense by Clemson this year was a 26.8 percent against Pittsburgh. The Panthers are coached by Agnus Berenato, who was the head coach at Georgia Tech last year.

Georgia Tech was led by Alex Stewart, the diminutive point guard who had 15 points, 13 rebounds and six assists to lead Tech in all three categories. Stewart had 11 offensive rebounds from her point guard position, the most offensive rebounds ever against Clemson by an individual. As a team, Georgia Tech had 32 offensive rebounds, most ever against Clemson. The only other double figure scorer for Tech was Stephanie Higgs, a 3.3 scorer for the season entering the game, who had 11 points on the night.

But, the great effort by Georgia Tech went without victory as Clemson made 43.5 percent from the field, including 44.4 percent from three-point land and 79 percent from the foul line.

Lakeia Stokes won the battle of the Stokes. The Lady Tiger had 14 points, made 5-10 from the field, 4-4 from the line, had a team best four assists, three blocks and two steals in her 38 minutes. Georgia Tech’s Fallon Stokes had eight points, but shot just 3-17 from the field. Both were the leading scorers for their respective teams with 17. points per outing entering the contest.

The first half was very competitive as there were 11 lead changes and three ties. But,

Clemson went on a 9-2 run the end the first half, a run that was completed by a three-point goal by sophomore guard Julie Talley, who made 2-3 three-point goals for the game. Clemson led 31-25 at intermission thanks to 50 percent shooting. White had 12 points at the half on 5-6 shooting.

Clemson held the lead between five and eight points most of the second half until Clemson reached a 50-40 advantage with nine minutes left on an inside jumper by Khaili Sanders, who made her first start of the season. Clemson kept the lead in double digits most of the rest of the game. Georgia Tech never could mount a strong run as the Yellow Jackets made just 2-19 three-point goals in the second half.

Clemson’s defense was outstanding on Georgia Tech sophomore guard Megan Harpring, who entered the game shooting 41.7 percent on three-point attempts. But, the sister of former Tech All-American Matt Harpring made just 1-14 field goals for the night, 0-12 on three-point attempts. Littlejohn Coliseum has been a difficult opposing venue for the Harprings. Matt never won in four trips to Littlejohn against Rick Barnes coached Clemson teams during his career from 1994-98.