Lady Tigers Down NC State 73-62

Feb. 20, 2003

Chrissy Floyd scored 23 points and Lakeia Stokes equaled her career high with 21 to lead Clemson to a 73-62 victory over NC State in women’s college basketball action Thursday night. The victory improved Clemson’s record to 13-11 overall, 5-8 in the ACC, while NC State fell to 10-14 overall, 5-8 in the ACC.

Clemson will next be in action on Sunday afternoon against Georgia Tech at 2:00 PM. It will be the final home game for Clemson’s senior class, led by Floyd, the school’s second ranked scorer in history. NC State will play host to Wake Forest on Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Floyd led the way with 23 points, her 16th straight game in double figures, her eighth game this year with at least 20 points. The guard hit 9-15 shots overall, her best field goal percentage against an ACC team all year. She also made 2-3 three-point attempts and has now made 12 of her last 23 from three-point range.

Stokes came off the bench to score 21 points. She made 5-8 shots from the field and 10-13 free throws. She also added eight rebounds, three steals and three assists in a productive 32 minutes. She also scored 21 points in a game last year against Wake Forest.

Those were the only two players in double figures for the Lady Tigers. Julie Aderhold scored seven for Jim Davis’s team. Aderhold played point guard for some of the night as Clemson was without the services of freshman reserve guard Julie Talley, who missed the game due to the flu.

NC State was led by Kaayla Chones, daughter of former Marquette All-American Jim Chones, who played 10 years in the NBA. Chones had a fine all-around game with 22 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks..

Carisse Moody added 13 points off the bench for the Wolfpack. Her first basket of the game gave her an even 1000 points for her career. Terah James was the only other player in double figures for NC State as she had 10 points and four assists. Alvine Mendeng, added nine points, but contributed a career high16 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds, most against Clemson all season. Her work on the boards was a big reason NC State won the rebounding 45-26, including a 25-6 advantage off the offensive boards.

While Clemson was beaten on the class, the Lady Tigers did shoot 54.5 percent from the field, their best marksmanship in an ACC game this year. Clemson made 4-7 three-point goals and hit 21-30 free throws. The game was played on even terms in the first half. Clemson held an 18-13 lead at the 12:13 mark on a three-point goal by Stokes, her only three-point attempt of the night. NC State battled back to tie the score at 19-19 on a jumper by Nanna Rivers.

The score was tied 11 times in the first half, including at 21, 23, 26, 28 and 29. Clemson scored the last four points of the half to take a 33-30 lead into the locker room. Clemson shot 61 percent from the field in the first half, but still had just the three-point lead. NC State took the lead at 34-33 early in the second half on a jumper by Amelia Labador. It was tied at 35-35 when Clemson went on an important 9-0 run. Stokes and Floyd combined for seven of the nine points in the run that gave Clemson a 44-35 lead with 14:02 left.

Clemson expanded the margin to 15 at 56-41 with 7:56 left on two free throws by Stokes. NC State did not score a field goal from the 18:23 mark until the 7:30 mark, but still stayed in the game thanks to offensive rebounding and free throws. NC State brought the margin back to five points at 61-56 with 2:52 left.

But, Clemson went on a 12-6 run to end the game. Floyd hit two field goals and Stokes made one and a free throw to give Clemson a double digit lead and the eventual victory.