Box Score December 21, 2009
Wofford vs. Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. – Despite only trailing by four points at the half, the Wofford women’s basketball team fell to Clemson Monday by a score of 67-51.
The Terriers opened with a 4-0 lead off an opening jumper from Kelly Dwyer and another less than a minute later from Mahagony Williams. The Tigers answered with a layup, but the Terriers were able to maintain a slight lead for more than six minutes into the contest, when a jumper from Lele Hardy gave the Tigers their first lead at 10-9.
The two teams traded baskets before a five-point Clemson run stretched the Tiger lead to 17-11. The momentum shift helped Clemson to a 10-point lead before the Terriers answered with a layup and a free throw shot from Williams to cut the Tiger lead to seven.
A three-pointer from Maddie Helms put the Terriers within four with three minutes remaining in the half. A Clemson layup was answered by Helms to keep the score within four points at 24-28 heading into the break.
Wofford pulled within two points in the first three minutes of the half, using a layup by Kelly Dwyer to cut the Tigers’ lead to 32-30. After a pair of traded baskets, a fastbreak layup from freshman Mariah Masalin tied the score at 34. The teams traded baskets again and after another tie at 36, Clemson recorded a 12-2 run to take a 48-38 lead with 8:31 remaining.
The Terriers struggled to keep up with a hot-shooting Tiger team in the second half, as Clemson recorded a 42.4 shooting percentage from the field. The Tigers would lead by as many as 19 points in the second half, holding the Terriers scoreless from the field for more than five minutes. A three-pointer from Natalie Gramblin with 1:24 remaining would be the last basket of the game as the Tigers claimed the 65-51 win.
Senior Lele Hardy led the Tigers with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while sophomore Shaniqua Pauldo added 15 points and nine boards. Clemson grabbed 54 total rebounds while shooting just under 40 percent from the field.
Junior Mahagony Williams notched a double-double, pacing the Terriers with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Natalie Gramblin added 10 points while senior Kelly Dwyer and freshman Rachel Brittenham each contributed four assists.
With the win, Clemson improves to 9-4 overall while Wofford falls to 1-10 on the season. The Terriers will resume Southern Conference play in the new year as they take on Furman on January 5. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman University.
