Clemson Falls at No. 10 Florida State

Feb. 11, 2010

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Clemson women’s basketball hung on for most of the game against 10th-ranked Florida State, but a second-half outburst by the Noles gave them the 67-50 win at the Donald L. Tucker Center. The Seminoles improved to 21-4 and 7-2 in the leaguie, while Clemson fell to 11-15 and 2-8 in ACC play.

Keyrra Gillespie had a career-best ten rebounds to pace the Tigers. Lele Hardy added 10 points, four rebounds and three steals, entering the game in the top ten in the ACC in each of those categories.

Florida State put together a robust second half, scoring 44 points on 53.3% shooting after a slow first half. Clemson, meanwhile, struggled from the field, shooting 27.8% in the second half, and missing each of their final 12 three-point attempts.

Florida State came in having scored 80 points or more and five of their past seven, but Clemson’s defense was able to slow the fast-paced Seminoles for much of the game.

Clemson jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead, holding the lead for the first 11:28 of the game before a Alexa DeLuzio three put Florida State ahead, 11-10. Pauldo was the impetus of the run, scoring eight of Clemson’s first ten points, and had a nifty feed to April Parker, who took back the lead for the Tigers at 18-17 with 5:27 remaining, forcing a Florida State timeout.

Clemson held Florida State without a point for six and a half minutes, taking a 20-17 with 4:17 left on a 7-0 run. However, FSU closed on a 6-0 run, holding Clemson without a point for the final 4:17 of the half, and nailing a jumper at the buzzer to take the 23-20 lead into halftime.

The Tigers held the Florida State offense, which had scored 80+ points in five of the last seven games to only a 10-32 mark from the floor. Additionally, 15 of their 23 points were of the second-chance variety, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds.

Florida State opened the second half on an 11-2 run behind three Tiger offensive fouls. In all, Clemson was called for five offensive fouls in the first ten minutes of the second half, while only making five field goals during that same stretch.

Clemson closed the gap to 40-32with 12:04 remaining as Hardy had had a hoop and a foul, missed the free throw, but grabbed her 900th career rebounds and was fouled on a putback, and sank both free throws. That would be as close as the Tigers could get, as a Clemson missed layup followed by an Alisha Harvin three put the Noles ahead by 11. The Seminoles stretched the lead to 22 late in the second half, but a pair of Tiger field goals brought it back.

Clemson returns to action on Sunday as they travel to Maryland for a 2:00 pm game with the Terrapins.