Lady Tigers Face Maryland Friday in ACC Tournament

March 3, 2005

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Clemson’s women’s basketball team will travel to Greensboro, NC to take on the #25/22 Maryland Terrapins in the opening round of the ACC Tournament on Friday. The Lady Tigers, the #11 seed, face the #6 seed Terps with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals Saturday to take on N.C. State. Friday’s opening round game is scheduled for 8:00 PM from Greensboro Coliseum.

The tournament will officially get underway at 11:00 AM Friday with the #8 seed Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets taking on the #9 seed Miami Hurricanes. Then, at 6:00 PM, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest meet in the 7-10 game. Clemson’s game with Maryland can be followed live on the internet via a webcast on TheACC.com. Fans will need to download Real Player in order to access the game.

Earlier this season, Maryland edged Clemson 87-82 in Littlejohn Coliseum. The Lady Tigers were coming off a lopsided defeat at North Carolina, and actually held a four-point lead in the second half of that game. The Terps posted a 9-0 run with the score tied at 72 to put the game away.

Clemson finished the regular season with an 8-19 record overall, 2-12 in the ACC. It marked the fewest regular season wins at Clemson since the 1986-87 season, one year prior to the arrival of current head coach Jim Davis.

Reggie Maddox had a good all-around regular season for Davis’ squad. The 5-9 junior college transfer led Clemson in scoring (9.4), assists (85), and steals (45). She also was second on the team in rebounding (4.9) and blocked shots (19). Maddox was brilliant in the loss to Maryland in February, scoring 17 points while tallying six rebounds, five steals, four assists, and two blocks.

Tasha Taylor comes into tournament play as Clemson’s hottest player. She is riding a streak of three consecutive double-digit scoring performances. She also has averaged 5.4 assists per game in 10 consecutive starts at point guard. The freshman from Columbus, GA averages 4.5 points per game and is second on the team with 80 assists.

Amanda White played well in the Lady Tigers’ game against Maryland as well. She hit her first seven shots from the field and finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. D’Lesha Lloyd was Clemson’s scoring leader this season during ACC play, and she hit for 18 points in the Maryland game on February 6.

Maryland finished the regular season 19-8, 7-7 in league play. The 22nd-ranked Terrapins are led by a pair of all-conference performers. Guard Shay Doron was a first-team All-ACC selection after averaging 18.6 points per game in the regular season, second-best in the league.

Crystal Langhorne was named second-team All-ACC and was a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman team. She led the league in double-doubles and finished as the ACC’s leading rebounder at 10.3 per game. She also averaged 16.8 points per game in her first season in the conference.

Clemson to Compete in 28th Annual ACC Tournament The Clemson women’s basketball team will compete in the 2005 ACC Tournament beginning Friday, March 4. The Lady Tigers are matched up with #6 seed Maryland in the opening round game, which is scheduled for 8:00 PM. The winner will advance to the second round to take on #3 seed N.C. State.

Clemson ended the year losing 13 of its last 14 games. The Lady Tigers’ lone win during that stretch was the home finale against Georgia Tech.

Last Time They Met… Maryland Rallies for Late Win, 87-82, over Lady Tigers Feb. 6, 2005 in Clemson, SC Clemson’s bid to upset #20 Maryland in women’s basketball action fell just short, as the Terrapins held on for an 87-82 win over the Lady Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum. The win improved Maryland to 16-5 overall, 5-4 in the ACC. The loss was the eighth straight for Clemson, dropping the Lady Tigers to 7-14 overall.

Facing a 10-point deficit at halftime, the Lady Tigers came out and put 50 points on the board in the second half. With the game tied at 72, the Terps went on a 9-0 run which essentially put the game out of reach for Clemson.

Despite the loss, there were some fine individual efforts on the part of several Clemson players. Freshman D’Lesha Lloyd had 18 points and hit 4-6 from three-point range. Reggie Maddox, who went scoreless in the North Carolina game on Friday as well as the first half Sunday, scored 17 second-half points. She also pulled down six rebounds, dished out four assists, recorded two blocks, and had five steals.

Amanda White also responded from a down game at North Carolina. The 6-4 junior had 15 points on 7-9 shooting. She hit her first seven shots from the field. She also grabbed nine rebounds. Julie Talley and Maxienne White contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

For Maryland, an incredible first-half shooting performance by Ashleigh Newman proved to be the different in the game. She hit 7-9 three-pointers and had 21 points, half of Maryland’s first-half total. She did not score in the second half. Crystal Langhorne contributed a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Kalika France had 19 points and six assists.

Clemson played a steady first half, but trailed by 10 at the break thanks to Newman’s effort. The Lady Tigers actually had more assists than turnovers in the half. Talley hit three outside shots in the opening half, giving her 92 for her career at Clemson. With Maryland leading just 26-24, the Terps put together a 13-2 run near the end of the half to pull away at the break.

In the second half, Clemson shot 52.6 percent from the floor. The Lady Tigers shot 6-11 from three-point range and finished the game 10-21. The 47.1 percent shooting for the game was one of Clemson’s best efforts this season. The Lady Tigers also committed a season-low 14 turnovers, one game after posting 35 in a loss to North Carolina.

Scouting Maryland Clemson will take on the #6 seed Maryland Terrapins in the opening round of the ACC Tournament on Friday. The Terps finished the regular season at 18-8, 7-7 in conference play. Maryland’s lone win over the final four games of the regular season came against Miami, 70-65.

The Terps feature a pair of impact performers in guard Shay Doron and freshman phenom Crystal Langhorne. The 5-9 Doron finished second in the conference in scoring at 18.9 points per game. However, she was held to 12 points in the only meeting this year between Maryland and Clemson.

Langhorne finished the regular season as the conference’s top rebounder at 10.2 per game. She also averaged 16.2 points per game, fifth in the ACC. Langhorne had 13 double-doubles as a freshman, including the matchup between the Terps and Lady Tigers back in February. She had 12 points and 13 rebounds versus Clemson.

The Terps are under the direction of Brenda Frese, now in her third year with the Maryland program. She has a 47-39 record while with the Terrapins.

Clemson’s ACC Tournament History Versus Maryland Friday’s game with Maryland will mark the sixth time the two schools have met in the ACC Tournament. The Terps hold a 3-2 advantage in tournament play over the Lady Tigers, but Clemson has won the last two meetings between the two. In 2003, Clemson edged Maryland 63-61 in the first round. In 1998, Clemson won 63-44 to advance to the championship game.

Clemson’s ACC Tournament Highlights Clemson has a rich history in terms of ACC Tournament success. The Lady Tigers have twice won the tournament, first in the 1995-96 season and then in the 1998-99 season. Both years, Clemson defeated schools from the state of North Carolina.

In 1996, the Lady Tigers downed #2 seed Duke 71-54 behind four double-figure scorers. In 1999, Clemson defeated #1 seed Duke 76-71 to advance to the finals against #3 seed North Carolina. The Lady Tigers claimed the title with a convincing 87-72 win over the Tar Heels. Current Clemson assistant coach Itoro Coleman concluded her conference career in fine fashion with 26 points in the win.

In addition to the two Championships, Clemson has appeared in the title game on four other occasions (1982, 1991, 1997, 1998). Overall, Clemson is 27-25 in ACC Tournament games.

Clemson Veterans in the ACC Tournament

(#12) Julie Talley Played 31 minutes and scored 15 points intwo games during the 2003 tournament, including 11 versus Marylandthat year. Played 20 minutes against N.C. State during the 2004tourney, scoring eight points on 2-3 three-point baskets. (#24)Lauren Allen Has not played in three ACC Tournament games. (#25)Khaili Sanders Played 15 minutes in two games during the 2003tournament, scoring eight points on 3-7 shooting. Had two points inseven minutes that year against Maryland. Scored two points andblocked four shots in 18 minutes against N.C. State during the 2004tourney. (#33) Carrie Whitehurst Played seven minutes but was 0-4from the field against N.C. State during the 2004 tourney loss.(#34) Lacey Shafer Played 11 minutes in two games during the 2003tournament, scoring two points on free throws. Played six minutesbut did not score versus N.C. State in 2004. (#44) Amanda White Played 32 minutesagainst Maryland during the 2003 tournament, scoring 11 points andgrabbing five rebounds. Scored six points against North Carolina inthe quarterfinals that year. Played 27 minutes and was 1-5 versusN.C. State in the 2004 tournament loss.

Taylor Emerging at the Point Freshman point guard Tasha Taylor has played her best basketball over the past few weeks for Clemson. She had a terrific final week of the regular season. It all began with a great all-around performance versus Wake Forest on Monday. The 5-9 Taylor scored 11 points and set career highs with seven rebounds and three blocked shots. She also contributed eight assists and three steals.

Taylor’s floor game in the win over Georgia Tech was nothing short of spectacular, especially considering she played all but one minute of the game. Taylor established new highs for both points (13) and assists (10), while adding five boards and a steal. Taylor scored Clemson’s final six points to seal the Lady Tigers’ 58-49 win. Taylor’s double-double was the first of her young career and just the third this season by a Clemson guard. Reggie Maddox had the other two for the Lady Tigers.

Taylor scored in double digits for the third straight game heading into the tournament when she had a team-best 12 in the loss at #19 N.C. State. She hit 5-13 from the field versus the Wolfpack.

A native of Columbus, GA, Taylor has started 10 consecutive games at the point for the Lady Tigers. During that span, she has averaged 5.4 assists per game and has averaged 26.2 minutes per game.

Maddox Playing Through the Pain Shin splints have not been enough to slow down Clemson’s versatile performer Reggie Maddox. The junior guard has been seriously bothered by the pain over the last three regular season contests, but has played through them.

Maddox finished the season as the team’s leading scorer (9.4) and leader in assists (85) and steals (45). She also had a 4.9 rebound average and 19 blocked shots, both second-best on the team.

Maddox had some memorable games in her first season as a Lady Tiger. She nearly became the third Clemson player to record a triple-double. She fell one point shy in the 78-65 win over N.C. State on January 9. Maddox had 18 points at #22 Rutgers and also recorded a double-double against South Carolina.

Clemson-Maryland Featured on TheACC.com Webcast Although the Clemson-Maryland game is one of four tournament contests not televised by the league’s regional sports network, fans who cannot attend the game Friday night can catch the action via the internet on the ACC’s official web site, TheACC.com.

In addition to Clemson’s game with Maryland, the site will provide webcasts for Virginia Tech-Wake Forest and Saturday’s last two quarterfinal games. The webcasts will begin approximately 10 minutes before tip-off for each game. Fans will need to download Real Player in order to access the webcast.

Former Wake Forest coach Charlene Curtis will provide color commentary during all four contests, while Scott Yakola will handle play-by-play duties. Webcast links will be made available on the site this week.

Productive Freshman Class Clemson is one of the youngest teams in the ACC this season, and it has been reflected in both the starting lineups and the productivity for the Lady Tigers. Adrianne Bradshaw and Moreemi Davis have shared playing time in the post, while Tasha Taylor and D’Lesha Lloyd have seen extensive action on the perimeter. Maxienne White can also be considered among the group, because she red-shirted the 2003-04 season.

As a group, they have accounted for 37 percent of Clemson’s points, 38 percent of the rebounds, 34 percent of the assists, 34 percent of the steals, and 34 percent of the minutes played.