DURHAM, N.C. – The Clemson women’s basketball team fell to 15th-ranked Duke, 89-60, on Sunday afternoon in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Four players hit double-figures for the Tigers (9-15, 1-10 ACC), three of whom came off the bench. Clemson fell to Duke (18-6, 9-2 ACC) for the 19th consecutive time and fell to 32-38 all-time in the series.
Clemson’s 60 points against the Blue Devils were its most in the series since scoring 65 on Jan 26, 2006 and its most in Cameron Indoor since Feb. 10, 2002.
Nikki Dixon led the Tigers with 17 points off the bench on just 3-6 from the field, but an 11-11 mark from the charity stripe. The 11 makes without a miss is the second-best individual free throw shooting game in school history, trailing just a 12-12 performance by Itoro Umoh in 1998.
Dixon moved into 7th on Clemson’s all-time scoring list during the game, passing Mary Anne Cubelic with 1,512 points. Dixon also became just the sixth player in school history to accumulate 1500 points and 500 rebounds in a career.
Tiffany Lewis hit double-figures for a third straight game, tallying 13 points on 4-13 shooting. She hit three three-pointers, giving her 14 over the last three games. Shelbie Davenport also added 13 in 33 minutes, her second straight outing in double-figures off the bench.
Alexis Carter was the fourth Tiger in double-figures, netting 11 points on 5-6 shooting. All five of her makes came consecutively from the 5:56 mark to the 1:41 mark of the second half. She also added bests of 23 minutes played, three assists and three rebounds.
Elizabeth Williams led Duke with 21 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and four blocks, while three other Blue Devils finished in double-figures.
Clemson trailed by as many as 22 in the first half before cutting the deficit down to 13 just before halftime. However, an 8-0 run out of halftime helped the Blue Devils pull away.
The Tigers return home to play No. 8/9 Louisville on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Littlejohn Coliseum.
Clemson head coach Audra Smith:
Opening Statement“First I would like to commend Duke for playing a great basketball game. They look taller and taller every year. They are a very long, lean, and athletic team. They did a very good job disrupting us on the defensive end because of their length. In the first half we were very shaky in terms of reversing the basketball because they got their hands in some things. We had a quite a few turnovers that they were able to transition into baskets. They are a very well balanced team and they played very hard and tough. I am very proud of my team in terms of bringing a young crew and competing to the end against a very talented team.”On defense:“The plan was to play more straight up defense. I was worried about how we would come out and attack that if we pressed. Also, the number of kids we were playing didn’t allow us to use the press with certain lineups. The other part was not being able to make shots, and then you can’t get into your pressure. ”On translating her success as a player to teaching her team:“It is very difficult because there is a huge gap from 1992 to 2015. I told them when we walked into the locker room that this was the locker room I dressed in as a player and coached in as a coach when we played Duke. For me the experience of being at all these different places and playing at these different schools in the ACC is hard to translate because they have never experienced it. You can’t teach experience, you have to go through it. For us right now, being so young we just have to go through it. It is hard to translate through the scouting report and the film what it’s like to play with an Elizabeth Williams, who is a pro. I just have to teach and talk to them about the significance of being in the ACC and the level of competition we have. Our competition is unbelievable.”On Nikki Dixon coming off the bench:“Nikki has been more productive coming off the bench than starting. Sometimes she gets foul happy, and sticks her hand in or jump in or she tries to take a charge when she’s not in position. It’s best for us to bring her off the bench. She comes off and is supportive and brings a big lift leadership wise and offensively.”
Individual Notes:
Nikki Dixon scored 17 points (3-6 fg, 11-11 ft) in just 20 minutes, surpassing the 1,500 career point milestoneDixon passed Mary Anne Cubelic moving into 7th all-time on Clemson’s career scoring list, with 1,512 career pointsDixon has now scored in double figures 21 times this season and 80 times in her careerDixon’s 11-11 performance from the free throw line is the second best individual performance in Clemson history, second only to a 12-12 performance by Itoro Umoh in 1998Shelbie Davenport scored 13 points (5-13 fg, 3-9 3fg), her second straight game in double figures and ninth of her careerTiffany Lewis scored 13 points (4-13 fg, 3-9 3fg), her third straight game in double figures and 11th of her careerAlexis Carter scored a career high 11 points (5-6 fg, 1-1 3fg), all in the second half and played a career high 23 minutes
Team Notes:The Tiger’s 60 points are the most points Clemson has scored against Duke since the 2005-06 seasonThe Clemson bench outscored the Duke bench 45-16The Tigers shot 15-19 (.789) from the free throw line and are 25-30 (.833) in their last two contestsFour Tigers scored in double figures in the same contest for the first time since December 13th (vs. North Dakota) and first time in ACC playClemson held Duke to only five fast break points in the contest
Kelly Gramlich At the Buzzer:
Clemson scored the most points against Duke since the 2005-06 season, but fell to the Blue Devils 89-60 in Durham, N.C. Clemson was lead by Nikki Dixon (17 pts), Shelbie Davenport (13 pts), Tiffany Lewis (13 pts) and Alexis Carter (11 pts). Clemson showed offensive balance as four different Tigers scored in double figures, the first time this has occurred in ACC play. Dixon, Davenport and Carter all came off the bench in the contest, resulting in the Clemson bench outscoring the Duke bench 45-16 (+29). The Tigers continued their impressive free throw shooting, connecting on 15-19 (.789) free throws in the contest. In Clemson’s last two games, the Tigers are 25-30 (.833) from the charity stripe.
However, #15 Duke put on an offensive clinic today in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils were led by senior Elizabeth Williams who almost posted a triple-double, scoring 21 points, pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing out nine assists. As a team, Duke dished out 24 assists, the most by a Clemson opponent since #1 South Carolina on November 20th. Furthermore, Duke scored 44 points in the paint to Clemson’s 12. An encouraging note from today’s contest is that three Tiger newcomers scored 10 points or more against an extremely talented Duke squad, and freshman guard Alexis Carter posted a career high 11 points. Lets hope these young Tigers can build on this offensive momentum and come ready to score as Clemson returns home to take on nationally ranked Louisville at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
December 10, 2024
