No. 16 Clemson Edged By UNC

Jan. 8, 2001

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Juana Brown scored 20 points, including each of the last six for North Carolina, leading the Tar Heels to a 71-70 victory over 16th ranked Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum. It was the fourth straight game between the two teams that was decided by four points or less. North Carolina improved to 8-5 overall, 2-2 in the ACC. Clemson fell to 11-4 overall, 2-2 in the ACC.

Clemson was coming off a victory at 16th ranked NC State on Friday and had already earned three wins over top 20 teams. North Carolina had lost two in a row, including 73-71 at Wake Forest in its most recent game.

Brown led North Carolina in scoring with 20 points, while LaQuanda Barksdale, the ACC’s top scorer and rebounder, had 19 points and 15 rebounds. Clemson was led by Chrissy Floyd, who tallied 24 points. The talented sophomore made 11-18 shots from the field and had three steals.Backcourt mate Krystal Scott had 19 and seven assists to go with four steals in an outstanding all-around effort for the Lady Tigers. Erin Batth had 14 points and 13 rebounds, her sixth double-double of the season, but Clemson’s senior made just 4-17 from the field, including just 1-8 in the second half.

The two teams battled on even terms for the first 14 minutes, as the two teams split the first 40 points of the game. Clemson then took a 30-21 lead, as North Carolina was whistled for offensive fouls on three straight possessions. Clemson held a 30-21 lead after Julie Aderhold nailed a three-point shot.

But, North Carolina battled back to tie the game at 30 behind three consecutive three-point goals by Juana Brown over the last three minutes of the half. The score was tied at 32 at halftime.

North Carolina jumped out to a 51-39 lead at the 13:30 mark of the second half. Barksdale scored eight points in a 19-6 run to open the half. But, Clemson used a timely defense and the scoring of Scott to get back in the game. Clemson tied the game at 59-59 with six minutes left on a free throw by Maggie Slosser.

The two teams battled on just about even terms the remainder of the game. The Tigers took a 67-65 lead with a minute left on a banking field goal by Floyd from the right side. But, Brown stole the ball at midcourt and drove and scored to tie at the 1:14 mark, then hit the lead field goal on a secondary break jumper with just 19 seconds left. Clemson failed to score a tying basket, then Brown’s two free throws clinched the victory for North Carolina. Her two free throws with four seconds remaining gave North Carolina a four-point margin. Floyd hit a three-pointer with less than a second remaining to make the final count 71-70.

Clemson forced nine more turnovers than it committed, but lost the game. North Carolina won the game on the glass, outrebounding Clemson 49-32.

“The key to winning this league is taking care of the homecourt, which we did not do tonight,” said Head Coach Jim Davis. “North Carolina wanted it more tonight than we did. We did not compete tonight. We got out-rebounded by 17. We are not a good rebounding team, but there is no reason why we can’t be. Rebounding is 80 percent want to.”