FINAL SCORE: Clemson 82, Syracuse 83
RECORDS: Clemson (8-9, 1-4), Syracuse (14-2, 4-1)
CLEMSON LEADERS: Amari Robinson 37 points (14-19 FG, 1-2 3FG, 8-9 FT), MaKayla Elmore 9 rebounds, Day Harris 10 assists
NOTABLES:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. –The Clemson Women’s Basketball Team (8-9, 1-4) fell short in a heartbreaker loss to the Syracuse Orange (14-2, 4-1) on Sunday afternoon in upstate New York. Graduate Amari Robinson tied her career high in points as she tallied 37 points as she shot 73.7% from the field. Three different Tigers tallied double-digit points, with Amari Robinson, Ruby Whitehorn and MaKayla Elmore scoring 37, 12, and 10, respectively.
Whitehorn opened up scoring as she drained a layup in the opening seconds of the game, thanks to an assist by Day Harris. With five different Tigers recording points in the opening quarter alone, Clemson went on 7-0 and 9-0 runs to control the game, as they never trailed Syracuse. The Tigers closed out the first quarter with a ten-point lead, 29-19, which is the most points allowed by the Orange in an opening quarter this season.
To open up the second quarter, the Tigers’ defense kept the Orange scoreless for 3:16 as Elmore and Harris extended Clemson’s lead. Clemson tallies another 9-0 run in just over two minutes as the defense shut down Syracuse’s offense with clutch rebounds by Elmore and Harris. The Tigers closed out the second half with an eleven-point lead, with Amari Robinson leading all-scorers with 12 points.
Clemson opened up the third quarter with an 8-0 run thanks to a 6-0 run by Robinson and a bucket from Whitehorn. The Tigers and Orange traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter,r and Clemson retained its eleven-point lead before entering the final ten minutes of the game. Clemson’s defense held Syracuse’s offense to 4-13 from the field and 3-10 from beyond the arc.
Robinson opened up scoring in the fourth by hitting a layup to give Clemson a 13-point lead; she would then go on to break her career record for points by sinking a three-point shot in the final minute of the game. Midway through the quarter, Harris recorded her tenth assist of the game to tie her career record as she assisted Elmore with a layup. The Orange came back late in the fourth quarter with just a minute left in the game. The Tigers and Orange would then trade baskets and the lead in the final minute, but Syracuse got the last bucket to seal the win by just a point, 82-83.
UP NEXT: Clemson (8-9, 1-4) returns home to face the Louisville Cardinals (15-2, 4-0) on Thursday, January 18; tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. on ACCNX.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Make sure to follow Clemson women’s basketball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date on everything happening with the Tigers.
