Clemson Falls at No. 3 Duke on Wednesday Night

Jan. 26, 2011

DURHAM, NC – No. 3/3 Duke (20-0, 6-0 ACC) used a 24-0 first-half run and opened up a big lead in defeating the Clemson Lady Tigers (9-13, 2-5 ACC), 92-37, at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday night. Senior Sthefany Thomas became the 22nd player in Clemson history to record 1,000 career points as she hit a left-wing three with 6:22 to play in the second half.

“We did a much better job of competing in the second half,” said Head Coach Itoro Coleman, who has already picked up road wins at Wake Forest and NC State. “Their press gave us trouble for much of the night. We did a much better job playing it in the second half, and were able to take advantage a little bit.”

Kirstyn Wright led all players with 15 points on 6-13 shooting from the field. Thomas entered the game with 997 career points, and the three gave her an even 1,000. Senior Jasmine Tate had nine rebounds

“I tell my team that if we give effort and compete for 40 minutes, we will have a chance to win,” said Coleman. “Duke started out fast, and didn’t have to get much into their offense in the first seven minutes or so.”

Clemson held the Blue Devils to 37.0 percent shooting in the half and outrebounded the Devils, 21-15 in the frame.

The Blue Devils (20-0, 6-0 ACC) held the Tigers to the fewest points in school history and forced 36 turnovers with their constant pressure. They also held Clemson, who entered the game as the ACC’s leading three-point team, to just 4-21 from behind the arc. When the Tigers were able to find open looks, there seemed to be a lid on the baskets, with an array of jumpers going halfway down before popping out.

After Wright opened the scoring with a layup, Duke responded with a 16-0 run, and held Clemson without a basket for 6:30. Wright had Clemson’s first ten points, and after an and-one closed the deficit to 29-10, Duke went on a 24-0 run, and held Clemson to just one hoop over the final ten minutes of the half, going into halftime with a 59-12 advantage. Wright was 4-9 in the half but the rest of the team was a combined 1-19.

The Lady Tigers return home to take on Virginia on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm.