Lady Tigers Can’t Slow Down No. 7 Duke, 81-58

Jan. 10, 2002

Box Score

Clemson, S.C. — All season, Duke coach Gail Goestenkors has wanted her team to be more aggressive on the offensive boards.

She got her wish Thursday night. The No. 7 Blue Devils had 14 offensive rebounds compared with the Lady Tigers’ six on their way to an 81-58 win. Overall Duke outrebounded Clemson 48-24.

“Every time a shot went up, it was in my head to crash the boards,” said Iciss Tillis, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds. “We all did it.”

Alana Beard had 25 points for Duke (13-3 5-0 ACC), which held Clemson scoreless for more than 10 minutes during a 22-0 run.

Beard said the team remembered the 93-75 beating Clemson applied last season at Littlejohn Coliseum.

“We were really motivated,” she said.

Clemson (10-5, 2-2) hit three field goals in the first three minutes, and four baskets in the final three minutes of the first half.

But in between, the Lady Tigers managed just one basket and three free throws and watched a 7-0 lead turn into a 30-12 deficit.

“I am embarrassed for Clemson University for the effort of our basketball team tonight,” coach Jim Davis said.

Beard scored nine of her 15 first-half points during the run. She shot 7-of-10 in the first 20 minutes and hit 11-of-14 for the game. Monique Currie added 11 points and 10 boards for Duke.

The Blue Devils shot 54 percent (34-of-63) for the game and 64 percent (12-of-18) in the second half.

“Doesn’t say much about the effort of our basketball team,” Davis said.

The Lady Tigers were led by Maggie Slosser’s 11 points, while Leah Roper added nine points and nine rebounds.

Duke’s halftime lead of 37-24 could have been larger, but the Blue Devils committed 12 turnovers and shot 16-of-35. However, the Blue Devils pulled down 11 offensive rebounds by halftime, matching Clemson’s total on both ends for the half.

“We were highly motivated,” Goestenkors said. “We’ve had trouble here in the past.”

Clemson, which ended the half hitting its last four shots, couldn’t carry the momentum into the final 20 minutes. The Lady Tigers missed their first six shots and fell behind 45-24 with 16 minutes to go.

The Blue Devils led by as much as 69-37 with 8:05 left.