Lady Tigers Post Historic Defensive Effort Against SC State in Win

Nov. 13, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s basketball team had an historic performance on Sunday afternoon with an 83-38 win over South Carolina State (1-1) in Littlejohn Coliseum. The Lady Tigers (2-0) had four players score in double-figures, and held the Bulldogs to the lowest opponent field goal percentage in the 499 home games in program history, and the third-lowest all-time regardless of site. “Our defense is what we stress in practice,” said Itoro Coleman, who is in her second season as the team’s head coach. “We have to make the most of the moment and get rebounds. For the most part, I thought today was a great team effort.”The program’s 500th home game will come on Thursday against South Carolina at 7:00 pm in a Solid Orange contest in Littlejohn Coliseum. The Bulldogs were just 10-54 from the floor, including a 3-27 (.111) mark in the first half, as the Lady Tigers went into the break up 38-11. Shaniqua Pauldo had 21 points in just 17 minutes of play, while Quinyotta Pettaway had a career-high 16 points on 8-9 shooting, and also added three blocks in the contest. Freshman Kelly Gramlich had 15 points, including a 6-6 mark from inside the arc. “We had a lot of extra passes and a lot of productivity from our posts,” said Coleman, whose post players accounted for nine assists. “We got a lot of opportunities [offensively] and the whole game just really flowed. South Carolina State runs a zone defense so a lot of shooting opportunities opened up for us.”Five players had seven or more rebounds, as Clemson out-rebounded SC State by a 60-28 margin. The plus-32 mark was the best rebounding margin by a Clemson team since November 14, 1998, a span of 12 years and 364 days, when the Itoro Umoh-led Lady Tigers out-rebounded UNC-Asheville, 55-23. 10:06 to 3:37 in the second half, the Lady Tigers went on a 20-0 run to take an 81-30 lead with 3:37 to play, as Clemson had seven different players score during the run. Freshman Nikki Dixon had 11 points on Sunday, following up her 21-point effort in her career debut. She and Pettaway have scored in double figures in both games this season. Pettaway entered the season with 33 career points, and has tallied 28 points in two games as a sophomore on 13-19 shooting, while making just 14 as a freshman. Every Lady Tiger who entered the game scored, including Deja Hawkins and Genvieve Hammett, who each tallied their first career points. The Lady Tigers had 29 assists in the game, the most since November 26, 2005, when that Clemson team also registered 29 assists. Five players had three or more assists, led by Chancie Dunn’s eight. Chelsea Lindsay also continued her strong play, scoring seven points, grabbing seven boards, and dishing out six assists. The effort continues Clemson’s big week of momentum, with signing the No. 9 class nationally on Wednesday, opening with a win over Davidson on Friday, and continuing with this effort on Sunday. The Lady Tigers won on Sunday despite being out-shot from the free throw line, 26-6 and outscored, 15-5 from the line. Clemson took control early, turning a 4-3 advantage into a 14-3 lead with a 10-0 run, and stretched it to 20-6. The first half lead eventually swelled to 27 as Gramlich hit a jumper just inside the arc with 39 seconds remaining. The Lady Tigers were able to get out and run to the tune of 12 fast break points, and did an effective job of converting off SC State’s turnovers for 32 points. The bench also accounted for 37 points in the game, a total team effort. Clemson vs. SC State Women’s Basketball NotesNovember 13, 2011 Team Notes* The Lady Tigers held SC State scoreless until 15:54 mark of the first half when they made a free throw. However, the first field goal by the Lady Bulldogs did not come until the 14:36 mark of the first half, that is 5:24 without a field goal. * Following that made field goal by SC State, Clemson went on a 10-0 run that spanned 5:03 of game time. The run was ended by a made free throw that made the score 14-4 at the time. * Despite making free throws, the Tigers held SC State without a field goal for another 6:48 after their first made field goal. The Lady Bulldogs were just 1-16 before making their second field goal and finished the first half going just 3-27. * Clemson held SC State to just 11 points in the first half. By comparison, Clemson’s Shaniqua Pauldo scored 15 points by herself in the first half. However, the Clemson record for fewest points scored in the first half by an opponent is nine by Alabama St. on January 20, 1993. * The Lady Tigers held the Lady Bulldogs to just .185 percent shooting from the field in today’s game. That is lowest field goal percentage by an opponent in 499 games home games and third lowest regardless of site in Clemson history. * In addition, Clemson went on a 20-0 in the second half from 10:06 mark to the 3:37 mark of the second half. During that stretch, seven different Lady Tigers scored. * Clemson held SC State to just 38 points in today’s game. That is the fewest points allowed by Lady Tigers since November 16, 2008 when the Lady Tigers held Presbyterian to just 35 points. * Clemson defeated the Lady Bulldogs by a margin of 45 points in today’s game. That is the largest margin of victory in a Clemson win since December 6, 2009, when Clemson beat Charleston Southern by 52 points (104-52). * Clemson’s 83 points scored in today’s game is the most points scored in a non-conference game since the second game of the season last year (2010). Last season, Clemson scored 85 points against Charleston Southern. * Clemson scored 32 points off turnovers in today’s game. The Lady Tigers have now scored 61 points off turnovers in the first two games this season. * Clemson scored 46 points in the paint in today’s game. That is the most points scored in the paint since the opening game last season. The Tigers scored 46 points in the paint against Charleston Southern last season. * Clemson recorded 60 rebounds in today’s game. Ironically, that is the most rebounds in a game since Clemson’s game against SC State last season when they recorded exactly 60 rebounds then too. * The Lady Tigers finished the game with a +32 rebounding margin, which is tied for ninth best in school history. Oddly enough, it is 12 years and 364 days from the last time that the Lady Tigers had a +32 rebound margin. On November 14, 1998, Clemson had a +32 rebound margin (55-23) over UNC Asheville. * The Lady Tigers recorded 29 assists in today’s game. That is the most assists since November 26, 2005 when Clemson also tallied 29 assists against Memphis. Player Notes* Shaniqua Pauldo finished the game with 21 points in just 17 minutes of play. That is the ninth 20+ point game of her career. * Quinyotta Pettaway scored a career-high 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting in today’s game. Her previous career-high came on Friday when she scored 12 points against Davidson. Pettaway now has 28 points on the season after totaling just 33 points all of last season. In fact, Pettaway has made 13 fields goals in the two games this season and only made 14 field goals all of last season. * Freshman Nikki Dixon recorded 11 points in today’s game giving her a combined 32 points in her first two games as Tiger. * Pettaway and Dixon are the only two Clemson players to score double-figure points in both games this season. * Freshman Kelly Gramlich scored 15 points and recorded seven rebounds in just her second game as a Tiger. She now has a combined 22 points in her first two games as a Tiger. * Freshman Genevieve Hammett recorded the first points of her career at 3:51 mark of the second half when she made two free throws. Deja Hawkins also recorded the first points of her career in today’s game while adding five rebounds.