RALEIGH, N.C. — Clemson fell to No. 4 NC State on Thursday. The Wolfpack never trailed at Reynolds Coliseum and defeated the Tigers 86-65.
In the shooting department, Clemson (10-8, 5-8) recorded a field goal percentage of 40.9, while NC State (13-2, 8-2) shot 51.5 percent from the field. The Tigers made six 3-pointers, and the Wolfpack poured in 10 treys. NC State won the rebounding battle 41-36. Delicia Washington led all scorers with 24 points to go along with her eight rebounds and four assists. Amari Robinson finished with 11 points and nine boards. NC State’s Kayla Jones tallied 21 points, seven assists and five boards.
NC State manufactured an early 12-0 lead and went on to lead 28-9 at the end of the first quarter. Washington came out firing in the second quarter and knocked down jumpers on Clemson’s first two possessions of the period. She later came up with a flashy 3-point play by netting a runner while absorbing contact and making the ensuing free throw. The Tigers outscored the Wolfpack 21-19 in the second quarter, but NC State took a 47-30 lead into halftime.
Clemson’s most electrifying play of the game came courtesy of a third-quarter pass made by Weronika Hipp from beyond the arc to a leaping Gabby Elliott near the basket. Elliott banked it home with a midair shot. However, NC State sported a 68-45 advantage heading into the fourth quarter and ultimately won 86-65.
On Sunday, Feb. 14, Clemson and Wake Forest (9-8, 6-7) will play for the second time on the season. The Tigers defeated the Demon Deacons 69-66 on the road last month. Sunday’s contest at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C., is scheduled to begin at noon and air on ACC Network.
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Head Coach Amanda Butler
Opening statement:“You’ve got to give NC State great credit. When we gave them open looks, they knocked them down. Kayla Jones is outstanding and one of the most underrated players in our league. We just didn’t really do a good job defensively.”
On Delicia Washington:“Delicia isn’t a one-woman show. And when we capitalize on that, she puts up numbers like she did today. The thing that’s super underrated about her is how she rebounds from the perimeter. Going and getting those defensive rebounds and starting our fast break turns us in a different animal offensively.”
