Clemson Women’s Basketball Triumphs in ACC Tournament
In an exciting matchup during the second round of the ACC Tournament, Clemson University’s women’s basketball team secured a 63-50 victory over the University of Virginia on Thursday in Duluth, Georgia. A notable performance came from Mia Moore, who dominated the final quarter by scoring 10 of her total 19 points. Additionally, Taylor Johnson-Matthews contributed significantly with 10 points of her own.
Significant Achievement for Clemson
This win marked a significant achievement for Clemson, as it brought the team’s season record to 21-10, the highest number of wins in a single season since the 2000-01 campaign. With this triumph, Clemson has earned a spot in the quarterfinals, where they will face the top-seeded Duke University, currently ranked 13th, on Friday.
Game Highlights
The game shifted in favor of Clemson towards the end of the third quarter, when both Hannah Kohn and Johnson-Matthews sank crucial 3-pointers, propelling the Tigers to a 43-39 lead. In the early moments of the fourth period, Moore continued the momentum with another 3-pointer, bringing the score to 50-41. As the game progressed, she managed to hit all four of her attempts in that final quarter, aiding Clemson in achieving an impressive shooting percentage of 85.7%.
Despite a shaky free-throw performance, where Clemson only converted 7 of 13, they maintained a comfortable lead of at least nine points in the closing minutes. Conversely, Virginia struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, hitting only 5 of their 15 attempts and committing three turnovers.
Virginia’s Performance
For Virginia, who hoped to reach the 20-win milestone for the first time since the 2016-17 season, Paris Clark led the scoring with 15 points, followed closely by Kymora Johnson with 12. Sa’Myah Smith shone defensively, registering 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Clemson, seeded ninth, had previously edged out Duke earlier in the season with a narrow 53-51 win on February 22. Meanwhile, Virginia, having secured 11 wins in the ACC for the first time since the 1999-00 season, will now await their fate for a potential postseason tournament invitation.
