Hardy Sets School Freshman Steal Record As Lady Tigers Fall At Florida State, 73-61

Feb. 22, 2007

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Clemson rookie Lele Hardy tallied seven steals against Florida State on Thursday night to set the school record for steals in a single season by a freshman with 93. However, the Lady Tigers (12-16, 4-9 ACC) could not pull off the victory as they fell to the Seminoles by a 73-61 margin at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, FL.

Hardy tied the mark on the Seminoles’ first possession of the game and then tallied her record-setting steal just 2:49 into the contest. The Spartanburg, SC native is now just three steals away from second place in school history. Hardy also led four Clemson double-figure scorers with 14 points on the night. D’Lesha Lloyd, Tasha Taylor and Morganne Campbell each added 12 in the contest.

Britany Miller led Florida State (20-8, 9-4 ACC) with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Tanae Davis-Cain posted 16 after a successful 4-for-5 night from three-point range.

Davis-Cain caught fire early in the first half, hitting her four three-point field goals in the opening period. The Seminoles drained six total in the half, including four straight from the 15:29 point to the 12:36 mark that put them on top by a 21-12 margin. Florida State’s lead reached 15 points on Davis-Cain’s fourth three of the half, but the Lady Tigers narrowed the gap to 12 on a basket by Hardy, a free throw by Taylor and a jumper by Campbell.

The Seminole advantage hit 16 on a field goal by Miller and Florida State held a 39-24 lead at the break.

Clemson then opened the second half on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to seven points just 1:37 into the period. Alicia Gladden ended the Seminole draught with a jumper at the 17:30 mark and Florida State grew its lead back to 12 points at 51-39 on a Jacinta Monroe bucket with 11:48 remaining.

Back-to-back three’s by D’Lesha Lloyd hit a shot in the paint to cut the Seminole lead to six. Monroe responded for Florida State with baskets on its next two possessions to put the Seminoles back on top by 10 at 61-51 at the 2:55 mark.

Another Hardy three with 1:01 remaining narrowed the gap to seven points at 66-59. However, Florida State converted five free throws in the final minute while holding Clemson to just two free throws of its own during the stretch to post its 20th victory of the season.

The Lady Tigers will return to Littlejohn Coliseum on Sunday afternoon for their final regular season game. They will play host to the Virginia Cavaliers at 2:00 pm.