Clemson Travels to Miami for FIU Holiday Tournament Dec. 20 & 21

Game Information vs. Central Arkansas:Who: Central Arkansas Sugar Bears (5-4) vs. Clemson Tigers (9-2)When: Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.Where: Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Miami, Fla.Listen: ClemsonTigers.comLive Stats: FIUSports.comFollow: Twitter & Instagram: @ClemsonWBB 

Clemson Team Notes:

• The Tigers are 9-2 and are coming off of a 53-45 win over Jacksonville State on Dec. 17 at home at Littlejohn Coliseum. Ten of the 12 Tigers that played in the win over the Gamecocks were in the scoring column, led by senior Alexis Carter with 12 points.
• Clemson continued its solid play on defense, holding the Gamecocks to just 45 points on 31.6% (18-for-57) from field goal range. In the fourth quarter, the Tigers held Jacksonville State to just two points on 1-for-14 shooting.
• Through 11 games and as of games through Dec. 17, 2017, the Tigers are ranked first in the Atlantic Coast Conference and third in the nation in two defensive categories: scoring defense (49.7) and field goal percentage defense (31.4%). Clemson is also first in the ACC and eighth nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (22.9%).
• In two seasons, the Tigers are currently 20-4 (.833) in nonconference play (11-2 in 2016-17 and 9-2 currently in 2017-18). It is the best two-year nonconference record for the program since the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, when Clemson was 23-4 (.852) in two seasons. The 20-4 record and .833 winning percentage is also the fifth-best two-year nonconference record in school history.

Clemson Player Notes:

• In Clemson’s 67-66 Big Ten/ACC Challenge win at Nebraska on Nov. 30, junior point guard Danielle Edwards bested her previous career-high by 10 points, going off for 33 points in 33 minutes in Lincoln. The Perry Hall, Md. native shot 9-for-15 (60%) from field goal range, including 5-for-9 (55.6%) from three-point range, and was also a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
• Edwards leads the Clemson team in scoring with a 10.8 points per game average. She is also the team leader in steals (36 for 3.3 per game) and assists (19 for 1.7 per game).
• Edwards’ 36 steals put her at third in the ACC and 14th in the nation, while her 3.27 steals per game average is third in the league and 21st nationally.
• Edwards leads the ACC and ranks 25th nationally in free throw percentage, at .889 (32-for-26).
• Sophomore Kobi Thornton is the Tigers’ rebounding leader with 7.5 boards per game. Her 82 rebounds and 7.5 per game figure both rank 15th among players in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• Freshman Tylar Bennett has 25 blocked shots for a 2.3 blocked shots per game average, while Thornton has 20 for 1.8 per game. Bennett is third in the ACC in both categories, and is 23rd nationally in blocked shots. Thornton is sixth in the ACC in blocked shots per game and eighth in blocked shots.

Series Information:

• Wednesday will be the first meeting between Clemson and Central Arkansas in women’s basketball.

Game Information vs. FIU or North Dakota State:Who: FIU Panthers (2-8) OR North Dakota State Bison (5-6) vs. Clemson Tigers (9-2)When: Thursday, Dec. 21 at 12 OR 2 p.m.Where: Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Miami, Fla.Listen: ClemsonTigers.comLive Stats: FIUSports.comFollow: Twitter & Instagram: @ClemsonWBB 

Series Information:

• Clemson and FIU have met just one time previously, a 65-64 upset victory for the Tigers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Miami, Fla. on March 16, 1994.
• Clemson and North Dakota State have never met in women’s basketball.