WFU women rout Clemson 63-43

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF REPORT
Published: January 25, 2010

Wake Forest held Clemson to nine points in the first half and rolled past the Tigers 63-43 yesterday at Joel Coliseum.

Secily Ray led the Deacons (12-8, 3-3) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Lindsey Mason had a team-best 14 points for Clemson (9-11, 0-5) and Lele Hardy and Keyrra Gillespie both had nine rebounds.

Hardy, Clemson's leading scorer (14 ppg), was held to three points, going 1 for 11 from the field.

"We had a great defensive effort today," Coach Mike Petersen of Wake Forest said. "When you hold Lele Hardy to 1 for 11, you know your defense is working hard."

Brook Thomas had her best scoring performance of the season with 13 points, in addition to seven assists, for the Deacons.

Wake Forest hit a season-best 87 percent from the free-throw line (14 for 16). The last time that Wake Forest shot 80 percent or more from the foul line was against Georgia Tech on Feb. 3, 2009, when the Deacons were 31 of 38.

Ray scored nine of the Deacons' first 11 points. The defensive pressure from the Deacons forced 14 Clemson turnovers to no Clemson assists in the first half. Wake Forest led Clemson 34-9 at halftime, tying Clemson's school record for fewest points in a half.

Lakevia Boykin hit a jumper with 12:42 remaining to give Wake Forest a 46-18 advantage, its largest of the game.