Davis And Whitehurst Lead Clemson To 79-69 Victory Over Miami On Sunday

Jan. 28, 2007

CORAL GABLES, FL – Clemson senior Carrie Whitehurst drained a career-high five three-point shots while center Moreemi Davis recorded the first double-double of her career in guiding the Lady Tigers (10-12, 2-5 ACC) to a 79-69 victory over Miami (10-12, 1-6 ACC) on Sunday afternoon at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, FL.

Whitehurst was 5-of-7 from behind the arc for 15 total points, bettering her previous best of three made several times during her four-year career. Davis totaled 11 points while collecting a career-high 10 rebounds to help Clemson out-rebound the Hurricanes by a 44-33 margin.

“Carrie is a shooter and we have been expecting her to have a break-out game. It happened at a good time,” Clemson Head Coach Cristy McKinney said. “Moreemi played a great game for us today and really helped us on the boards.”

Tasha Taylor was the Lady Tigers’ second leading scorer on the afternoon with 14 while playing the point guard position for much of the game.

“Tasha played like an experienced veteran today,” McKinney said. “She played composed and provided leadership on the floor for us today.”

Renee Taylor led all scorers with 20 points for Miami as she was 4-for-8 from three-point range and 8-for-11 from the free throw line.

The Lady Tigers posted their highest first half total of the season, taking a 48-44 lead in the lockerroom thanks to a 12-2 run in the last 2:04 of the period.

The Hurricanes’ Taylor and Reid were on fire from long range early in the game, as the two combined for five three-pointers in the first six minutes. Taylor’s fourth three put Miami up by nine at 23-14 with 13:39 remaining. However, Clemson scored the next six points to cut the deficit to three and used a 13-4 to tie the game at 27-27 on the first of Whitehurst’s three-pointers at the 9:34 mark.

The teams then traded the next six baskets before the hot touch traded sides and Whitehurst drained three more from behind the arc. Her second three, with 6:25 remaining, gave the Lady Tigers their first lead since the 15:43 point (36-33). The Hurricanes held Clemson scoreless for the next 4:20 while putting up seven of their own to recapture the lead at 42-36. The momentum switched again as the Lady Tigers held the four-point advantage at the break.

For as hot as the shooters were in the first half, the second was a sloppy affair in which Clemson shot just 33.3% and Miami made just 5-of-20 field goals.

Clemson extended its lead to 14 points at the 6:45 mark as Lele Hardy stole the ball and laid it up to put the Lady Tigers up 72-58. The lead then hit a game-high 15 at 77-62 as Lloyd drained two free throws with 3:02 remaining.

The Hurricanes made a final push and closed the gap to 10 points with 22.5 left, but Clemson held on for its 10th victory of the season

The Lady Tigers will have an eight-day lay-off before facing the Duke Blue Devils in Durham, NC on Monday, Feb. 5.