Tigers Dominate On The Glass En Route to 65-58 Victory at RV/RV Notre Dame

South Bend, Ind. – Senior guard Taylor Johnson-Matthews (18 points, 3-3 3FG) led Clemson women’s basketball (14-7, 5-4 ACC) as the Tigers handed RV/RV Notre Dame (13-7, 5-4 ACC)  just its second home loss of the season, 65-58 at Purcell Pavilion on Sunday.

For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Tigers beat the Fighting Irish in South Bend (W, 71-55, Dec. 19, 2019). The win also marked the first win in the series since the 2020-21 season.

On the glass, the Tigers dominated. Graduate Demeara Hinds led the team with seven boards. Moore and Raven Thompson each recorded six. The Tigers grabbed 40 total rebounds and outrebounded the Irish by 20. Of those 40 boards, 14 came off the offensive glass and led to 20 second-chance points, the most scored against the Irish this season.

The Tigers saw three senior guards score in double digits on the afternoon. Leading the way on offense was Johnson-Matthews, whose 18 points came on an efficient 7-8 shooting and 3-3 from behind the arc. Mia Moore shot 60% from the field and added 14 points of her own, and Rachael Rose tacked on 11. 

Notre Dame was led by Hannah Hidalgo (30 points, six assists, four rebounds), who scored 30 of her team’s 58 points.

HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
With 8:39 remaining in the third quarter, Hidalgo hit a layup to grow the Notre Dame lead to five. Over the final eight minutes of the third frame, the Tigers went on a 23-7 run and would not trail the rest of the game. 

HEAD COACH SHAWN POPPIE SAID

HIGHLIGHTS

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• The Tigers grabbed 40 total rebounds and outrebounded the Irish by 20.
• Clemson’s 14 wins match the win total from last season (14-17 record in 2024-25).
• Clemson earned its 4th win in the all-time series against Notre Dame; the Fighting Irish still hold a 10-4 advantage in the pairings.
• For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Tigers beat the Fighting Irish in South Bend (W, 71-55, Dec. 19, 2019). The win also marked the first win in the series since the 2020-21 season.
• The win marked Clemson’s highest Quad One win of the season (Notre Dame No. 28 in the Net.
• For the 12th time this season, Clemson has held its opponents to under 60 points.
• Johnson-Matthews’ 18 points and 3-3 from three-point range marked her tenth double-digit scoring game this season, and the fifth time this year she has made at least three threes.
• Moore (14 points) recorded her 15th double–digit scoring effort of the year.
• Rose (11 points) registered 10-plus points for the 11th time this season.
• Clemson moves to 9-2 in white jerseys this season.

UP NEXT
Clemson returns to Littlejohn Coliseum for a two-game homestand. The Tigers will host SMU on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. (ACCNX) and FSU on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 4 p.m. (ACCN).

TICKETS
Fans can purchase women’s basketball tickets by calling 1-800-CLEMSON or at ClemsonTigers.com/Tickets/.

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