Box Score NCCU at Clemson

CLEMSON, S.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – After an opening-minute North Carolina Central University lead, the Lady Tigers of Clemson University found luck from the three-point arc to cruise to 68-48 victory over the mighty maroon on Sunday, Dec. 18 in Clemson , S.C.

Lady Eagles’ category dominator junior Chasidy Williams led the squad with her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 17 points and seizing a season-high 17 rebounds, as newly appointed sharp-shooter junior Jasmine Alston  finished with 11 points, going 3-of-6 from the long range.  NCCU freshman Kabrina Truesdale dropped nine points, pulled down five rebounds, circulated three assists and stole three Clemson possessions in the loss.  

In the opening minutes of play, NCCU took a short two-point 5-2 lead off a three-point shot by Alston.  The Lady Tigers quickly responded to the short lead, hitting a 15-0 run off of Nikki Dixon’s long range success.  Over the three-minute run, Dixon was a perfect 3-for-3 from the behind the arc.

NCCU’s Williams broke the run with a layup at the 12:35 mark.  Her four points and sophomore Alesha Jenkins’ jumper in the paint brought the squad within six for a score of 17-11. 

Nonetheless, another three-point Clemson outing extended the lead to double-figures, Kelly Gramlich, who was 6-of-8 from the long range and led the Lady Tigers with 20 points in the win, netted three consecutive long-range baskets to extend the lead to 14 points by the 8:14 mark.

To close out the first 20-minutes of play, Clemson outscored the maroon and gray 14-7 over eight minutes, went 9-of-10 from the long range and held a 19-point lead for score of 40-21.

By the half, Williams had 10 points and five rebounds, while Alston, who was 50 percent from the three-point range, scored five points. 

The Lady Eagles opened the second-half outscoring the Lady Tigers 8-3 and holding the host team scoreless from the paint and the long range to bring the margin to 15 in the first seven minutes of competition.

Clemson took a much needed timeout at the 13:22 mark.  The Lady Tigers returned to the hardwood to extend the lead to 27 points on an 18-6 run.

Mighty maroon senior Blaire Houston and Williams snapped the run, with individual three-point baskets at the 5:57 mark and 4:55 mark, respectively.

In their final offensive pitch, the Lady Eagles went on a 6-5 run to bring the margin to 20 points for a final score of 68-48.

The Sunday afternoon victory snaps a three-game Clemson losing streak.

On the night, the Lady Eagles were 30 percent from the field on 18-of-60 shooting, 7-of-22 from behind the arc, and 42 percent from the charity stripe, 5-of-12. 

Along with Gramlich’s 20 points, Dixon scored 18 points and stole five NCCU possessions, while Quinyotta Pettaway grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.  Lindsay Mason obtained nine rebounds and blocked four shots, as Chelsea Lindsay circulated six assists.  The Lady Tigers were 43 percent from the field on 26-of-61, 11-of-17 from the long range, and 36 percent from the free-throw line, 5-of-14.

On the season, the maroon and gray drops to 2-9, as Clemson advances to 4-5 and takes the opening series win.

The Lady Eagles return to the road for a Wednesday, Dec. 21 matchup against Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C., at 1:00 p.m.

For more information on Lady Eagles basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.