Feb. 10, 2000
CLEMSON, S.C. – Krystal Scott and Chrissy Floyd eached scored 15 points and Erin Batth collected a career high 15 rebounds, leading Clemson to a 69-65 women’s college basketball victory over North Carolina Thursday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. Clemson improved to 16-7 overall, 7-4 in the ACC with the victory, while North Carolina fell to 12-11 overall, 4-8 in the ACC.
It was the fifth straight win for Jim Davis and the Lady Tigers this season, Clemson’s third straight victory over the Tar Heels. It is the first time since the 1987-91 era that Clemson has won three straight from North Carolina and the first time Clemson has swept the season series since the 1989-90 season. Clemson defeated North Carolina in the ACC championship game last year.
North Carolina’s Juana Brown scored her 1000th career point on a free throw with 1:25 left, her 16th point of the game. It was the 275th win for Jim Davis as Clemson Head Coach.
Clemson was outstanding at the foul line in the contest. The Lady Tigers made their first 13 foul shots of the game and concluded 29-38 from the stripe, 76.3 percent. North Carolina won the battle of the boards 50-38, but the Lady Tar Heels shot just 32 percent for the game and committed 23 turnovers.
Angie Cossey scored 11 points, while Batth had a double-double with 12 points and the 15 rebounds. North Carolina was led by Nikki Teasley, who scored 18 points off the bench, but hit just 6-20 shots from the field. Juana Brown added 17 points and eight rebounds, while LaQuanda Bardsdale, the ACC’s scoring and rebound leader, had 15 points and 13 rebounds.
The two teams were even at 7-7, seven minutes into the game when Clemson went on a 10-0 run to take a 17-7 lead at the 11-minute mark on a Batth bucket. North Carolina made just 3 of its first 15 shots from the field, allowing Clemson to take the 10-point lead.
Clemson advanced the margin to 31-16 with 3:18 left in the half on a three-point shot by Cossey from the right side. But, North Carolina went on a 9-2 run to close the half. Chrissy Floyd scored 10 in the first half to key Clemson, while Brown had 10 to lead North Carolina. Clemson was 13-14 from the line at intermission.
The Lady Tigers had a 37-30 lead early in the second half when Clemson Coach Jim Davis called a timeout. Davis made some adjustments and Clemson went on a 13-0 run. Nuria Forns scored all eight of her points in that 13-0 run, giving Clemson a 50-30 lead with 10 minutes left. North Carolina made just 2 of its first 13 shots from the field in the second half.
But, North Carolina did not quit. They cut the lead to 57-54 with just 2:32 remaining on a three-point play by Jackie Higgins. Clemson then made clutch free throws down the stretch. Scott made six straight inside the last two minutes and Clemson led 67-58 with a minute left. But, the Tar Heels converted a four-point play, then stole the ball and scored again. They cut the margin to two points on consecutive three-point goals by Teasley, the last coming with five seconds remaining.
Angie Cossey was fouled with 3.7 seconds left. The senior stepped to the line having missed her last two free throws, but she calmly sank both this trip, giving Clemson the four-point margin and the victory.
April 13, 2024
