Clemson, S.C. – The Clemson women’s basketball team wasn’t able to outlast Northwestern in the fourth quarter to fall 72-61 on Thursday evening in the B1G/ACC Challenge inside Littlejohn Coliseum. With the loss, Clemson falls to 4-3 on the season as Northwestern improves to 5-3.
Delicia Washington led the Tigers with 18 points. Kiara Lewis followed with 16 points, and Amari Robinson went 5-for-8 with four free throws to add 14. Robinson also led the Tigers with seven rebounds, while Daisha Bradford added five, including a team-high four defensive rebounds.
Clemson held the advantage for points in the paint (42) and off fast breaks (12) but only shot 39.1 on the game after ending the first half shooting 45.5 percent.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 7-4 lead, before holding an 11-9 edge heading into the first media timeout. Clemson continued to charge ahead to take a six-point lead after shooting 56.3 percent from the floor in the opening frame.
The Tigers continued to maintain the advantage in the second quarter, stretching the gap to as much as 13-points before the Wildcats trimmed the lead down to seven heading into halftime. At the break, Robinson led Clemson from the floor with 12 points and four rebounds. Lewis and Washington followed with nine and eight points, respectively.
Northwestern continued to cut in on Clemson’s advantage in the third limiting the Tigers to never holding more than a five-point lead. With 2:20 left in the quarter, the Wildcats tied things at 45-all. Clemson was able to reclaim the upper hand to end the third 48-47.
The two sides traded blows in the fourth before the Wildcats went on a 9-0 run to take an eight-point lead with four minutes remaining. Clemson tried to restart the offense, but Northwestern’s defense held strong allowing only two free throws for the Tigers in 6:20. Daisha Bradford was able to make a jumper with 36 seconds remaining, but Northwestern closed out the game, 72-61.
Clemson returns to action in Littlejohn Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 5 when the Tigers welcome the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College for a 2 p.m. tip. Sunday’s game will be broadcast live on ACCNX.
