January 7, 1999
Clemson, SC – Natasha Anderson scored 16 points, and Itoro Umoh added 15 points, 11 assists, six steals and seven rebounds to pace 12th ranked Clemson to a 77-55 victory over Florida State in women’s basketball action at Littlejohn Coliseum. Clemson raised its record to 12-2 overall, 3-2 in the ACC, while Florida State fell to 5-9 overall, 0-5 in the ACC.
The Lady Tigers will next be in action on Sunday when they travel to Georgia Tech for a 12:30 contest that will be televised by SportSouth.
Clemson trailed at intermission by a 26-23 score, but came back to gain the 22-point victory. It was the largest margin of victory in Clemson history in a game it trailed at halftime. Clemson shot 25 percent in the first half, then doubled the percentage in the second half by shooting 19-38.
Clemson forced 29 turnovers and committed just 13, the prime reason Clemson had 27 points off turnovers to just five for the Seminoles. Clemson won the rebounding battle 48-39. Anderson had 10 rebounds to pace Clemson in that area, while classmate Nikki Blassingame added nine.
Amy Geren, the only ACC player ranked in the top 10 in the league in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and three-point shooting, had 11 points for the Lady Tigers. Forward Erin Batth added 10 points in just 17 minutes.
Florida State was led in scoring by April Traylor who scored 20, but the freshman from Indiana committed 10 turnovers. It was her second highest scoring game of the year, as she made 3-5 three-point shots. She had made just 2 of her last 17 from long distance entering the contest. Brooke Wyckoff had 17 points and 11 rebounds to supply a double-double for the Seminole effort, while Tamara Gracey had eight points and 11 rebounds. Wyckoff also had four blocked shots.
Florida State used a box-and-one defense on Amy Geren in the first half and the defense proved to be effective. Clemson’s leading scorer had just three points at intermission. Florida State led 24-17 just before halftime as Traylor scored 16 of the Seminole points. Clemson made a late run to get within three points at intermission, 26-23. Clemson made just 10-40 from the field in the first half.
After an exchange of baskets to open the second half, Clemson went on a 20-0 run in a five-minute period to take a 45-28 lead. Geren scored eight of Clemson’s 20 points in the run, including a pair of three-point goals. Geren finished with 11 points. Florida State cut the margin to 54-41 with 8:09 left on a pair of free throws by Wyckoff, but could get no closer. Clemson’s largest lead was 77-51 with 1:19 left.
April 17, 2024
