CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson used a 14-0 run midway through the first half and the Spartans were never able to recover as UNCG fell to Clemson, 71-55, in the season-opener for both teams on Friday night in Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Tigers (1-0) used their height advantage all night in the paint as they outscored UNCG 46-26 in that area. Clemson also turned 20 Spartan turnovers into 22 points and converted 16 second-chance points.
Clemson center Shaniqua Pauldo finished the game with 26 points, a matching 13 points in each half, and 15 rebounds for the lone double-double of the evening. Forward Jasmine Tate added 11 points for the home team and reserve post player Lindsey Mason had eight points. Sthefany Thomas had 16 points for the Tigers, as well.
Amanda Leigh paced the Spartans (0-1) as she had 17 points and six rebounds. Monique Floyd was the only other Spartan in double figures as she had 12 points. Point guard Dayshaun Richbow had a nice game for UNCG as she added six points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
"I was pleased with our aggressiveness," said coach Lynne Agee. "I thought we took it to the basket strong and tried to create some opportunities. Our rebounding is really causing us problems, or lack thereof. We couldn't handle the big center in the middle and we couldn't rebound with them physically."
The Spartans got off to a great start as they won the tip and Floyd got a rebound and layup for the first two points of the contest. A pair of layups gave UNCG the early 6-2 lead before Clemson responded with a pair of 3-pointers to go ahead, 8-6.
A 3-pointer by Leigh with 11:27 remaining in the first half put the Spartans ahead, 17-16, but the Tigers responded with a 14-0 run over the next 5:17 to take a 30-17 lead.
The Spartans continued to chip away at the Tiger lead and eventually made it a 34-28 game with 2:14 remaining before halftime on a layup by Leigh. Clemson would go on to make a pair of baskets before the half to take a 38-28 lead into the break.
In the second half, Floyd converted an old fashion three-point play to cut the Tiger lead to 11 at 42-31 with 17:03 left in the game. That was as close as the Spartans would get the rest of the night as Clemson went on to stretch its lead to 18 with 10:42 remaining.
UNCG once again fought back and cut the lead to 12 on a jumper in the paint by Janae' Stevenson with 6:39 remaining.
The Tigers opened their lead back up to a game-high 19 on a jumper by Kelia Shelton with 40 seconds remaining.
Another Leigh 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining made the final score 71-55.
Despite the height advantage in the paint, the Spartans only trailed in the rebounding margin, 48-42.
The Spartans will return home to Fleming Gymnasium for their home-opener on Monday as they host UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m.
AGATE
CLEMSON 71, UNCG 55
UNCG (0-1)
LEIGH, Amanda 6-17 2-2 17; FLOYD, Monique 5-11 2-4 12; STEVENSON, Janae' 2-3-2 6; RICHBOW, Dayshaun 1-7 4-4 6; SMITH, Kendra 2-8 0-0 5; AWURUONYE,neka 2-4 0-0 4; FOLWELL, Sarah 1-2 0-0 3; PATTERSON, Breonna 1-2 0-0 2;LAPPER, Amy 0-4 0-0 0; NOSOVITCH, Colleen 0-0 0-0 0; WEAVER, Jazz 0-2 0-0; DORSETT, Brey 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 20-64 10-12 55.
CLEMSON (1-0)
Pauldo, Shaniqua 11-22 3-7 26; Thomas, Sthefany 7-15 0-0 16; Tate, Jasmine 5-9 1-2 11; Mason, Lindsey 4-4 0-0 8; Shelton, Kelia 2-6 0-1 4; Smith, Bryelle 1-5 0-2 2; Wright, Kirstyn 1-8 0-0 2; Dunn, Chancie 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 31-70 6-14 71.
UNCG.......................... 28 27 - 55
Clemson....................... 38 33 - 71
3-point goals--UNCG 5-18 (LEIGH, Amanda 3-10; FOLWELL, Sarah 1-2; SMITH, Kendra 1-3; PATTERSON, Breonna 0-1; DORSETT, Brey 0-2), Clemson 3-12 (Thomas, Sthefany 2-4; Pauldo, Shaniqua 1-1; Shelton, Kelia 0-2; Smith, Bryelle 0-1; Wright, Kirstyn 0-4). Fouled out--UNCG-None, Clemson-None. Rebounds--UNCG 42 (SMITH, Kendra 7; RICHBOW, Dayshaun 7), Clemson 48 (Pauldo, Shaniqua 15). Assists--UNCG 14 (RICHBOW, Dayshaun 9), Clemson 20 (Smith, Bryelle 6). Total fouls--UNCG 15, Clemson 11. Technical fouls--UNCG-None, Clemson-None. A-721
- UNCG -
