North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Clemson
NC State Falls at Clemson
1/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2005
CLEMSON, S.C. - NC State gave up a season-high 52 points and allowed Clemson to shoot a season-high 56.5 percent in the second half in only its third loss this season. Despite senior Kendra Bell recording 11 of her 16 team-leading points in the second half, the Pack could not hold on to win and fell to 1-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. NC State's overall record dropped to 12-3, while the Tigers improved to 7-6 overall and 1-0 in the ACC. Clemson saw four players reach double figures, led by D'Lesha Lloyd's game-high 19 points. The Tigers' Reggie Maddox fell one point shy of a triple-double with her nine points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. The Wolfpack's Khadijah Whittington and Monica Pope each added 10 points for NC State.
"We just could never really get into our offense," said NC State head coach Kay Yow. "We looked very tired. It's been a draining road trip with six people dealing with illness and the tough win at Vanderbilt. The next four days will be good to take some time and recuperate before hosting North Carolina on Friday."
The Pack had to come from behind to take a narrow 28-26 lead into halftime. Junior Rachel Stockdale came off the bench to hit two-straight three pointers to give NC State the needed lift after a slow start. The Tigers took an early 11-3 lead before the Wolfpack finally erupted some offense. Lloyd had 10 of her 19 points in the first half to cause some defensive frustrations for NC State, whose defense was ranked fifth in the nation entering the game.
The second half wasn't much better. NC State's Whittington had eight-straight points in the period and Bell led with 11 to keep the Wolfpack close until the closing minutes. NC State forced Clemson to the line 26 times in the half, compared to zero trips the first half. The Tigers made the Wolfpack pay and hit 73 percent of those attempts.
NC State will take the next four days to recuperate from its two-game road trip and prepare for its Tobacco Road matchup with visiting North Carolina on Friday, Jan. 14. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum.
