Tigers Drop Close Contest to Wake Forest

CLEMSON, S.C.- Aliyah Collier grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds, Victoria Cardaci knocked down four three-pointers and Sirah Diarra scored a career-high 11 points, but it was not enough as Clemson (4-20, 0-11 ACC) fell to Wake Forest (14-11, 5-7 ACC) by a final score of 55-45 in Clemson’s annual #Play4Kay contest.  

“We got 61 shots and they got 53 but we just couldn’t knock them down. Wake Forest is a solid team. They have kids that can put the ball on the floor and score. However, we folded in the fourth quarter and let Wake go on a run,” Head Coach Audra Smith said.

Clemson started the game on an 11-2 run, forcing Wake Forest to call an early timeout with 6:22 remaining in the first quarter. The Demon Deacons battled back, putting together an 11-2 run of their own to tie the game at 13 points apiece. Wake Forest held a 16-13 lead at the end of the first quarter of play.

The second quarter was much of the same, as neither team could find any separation in the first half. After two quarters, Wake Forest led Clemson 26-23. Collier led the Tigers with eight points at intermission and pulled down 10 of her 17 rebounds in the first half of play.

Cardaci knocked down two of her four three-pointers in the third quarter to lead the Tigers as Clemson outscored Wake Forest 11-10 in the third. However, the Demon Deacons still led 36-34 heading into the fourth quarter.

Collier hit a free throw to cut Wake Forest’s lead to 46-45 with 2:46 remaining in the contest but the Tigers would not score for the rest of the game as the Demon Deacons finished the night on a 9-0 run to secure the win.  

Clemson returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 14 when they travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech at 2 p.m.

Notes:

• Aliyah Collier recorded a career-high 17 rebounds, the most rebounds by a Tiger since Quinyotta Pettaway pulled down 15 vs. Davidson on Nov. 8, 2013.
• Collier grabbed 10 rebounds in the first half, the most rebounds by a Tiger in one half this season; she pulled down 58.8% (10/17) of Clemson’s rebounds in the first half and 40.4% (17/42) of the team’s rebounds in the game.
• Sirah Diarra scored a career-high 11 points (5-9 fg, 1-2 ft) and tied a career-high with eight rebounds.
• Victoria Cardaci scored 12 points, knocking down four three-pointers on eight attempts, a personal best for the sophomore in ACC play.
• Clemson outrebounded Wake Forest 42-40 and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds to Wake Forest’s 14.
• Clemson recorded 12 assists on 17 made field goals, assisting on 71% of their made shots.