Lady Tigers Fall to Chattanooga, 69-56, on Saturday Night

Dec. 12, 2009

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, TN – The Clemson women’s basketball team cut a 14-point second half deficit to six points with 5:01 remaining, but six second-half three pointers and 17-18 shooting from the free throw line carried the Chattanooga Lady Mocs (5-5) past Clemson, 69-56. Shaniqua Pauldo had 16 points to lead Clemson, who had won three of four entering the game.

Jenaya Wade-Fray had a career-high 27 points for the Mocs, including 22 in the second half on 7-13 shooting. Shanara Hollinquest had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Chattanooga as the only other Moc in double-figures.

Kirtyn Wright finished with 10 points and ws the only other Tiger in double-figures. Lele Hardy had 12 rebounds on the night, but had only one field foal attempt in the second half, finishing with four points overall. Bryelle Smith had eight points in the second half, including two three-pointers, while Keyrra Gillespie had eight points and four assists.

Clemson brought the score to 31-30 on a Pauldo hoop early in the second half, but a Kayla Christopher three-pointer started a streak of six consecutive makes by Chattanooga from behind the arc, including Wade-Fray’s four. From the 14:27 mark on, Clemosn held the Mocs to only one two-point field goal in the half. Chattanooga was also 17-18 form the charity stripe in the second half.

Chattanooga took a 24-20 lead into halftime after leading by as many as nine. However, Clemson’s defense tightened toward the end of the half, holding the Mocs to only one field goal in the final nine minutes of the half. The Tigers closed to one with 4:51 remaining on a Kirstyn Wright hoop.

Wright’s five points led the Tigers in the first half, but Clemson was only able to manage 30.8% shooting, including 1-8 form behind the arc. Hardy’s seven rebounds led all players, and the senior added four points, a block, and a steal as well. The Mocs outrebounded the Tigers, 25-19, in the half, and had ten on the offensive end.

Clemson will return to action on Tuesday at 7:00 pm as they take on USC-Upstate.