Boston College
Clemson
Women's Basketball Tames Tigers, 71-51
January 23, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2009
BC Women's Basketball Photo Gallery
Chestnut Hill, MA -
Sophomore Carolyn Swords scored 19 of her game-high 29 points in the second half as Boston College cruised to a 71-51 victory over ACC foe Clemson in front of 1924 fans at Conte Forum on Friday night. The Eagles picked up a crucial ACC victory and improved to 4-1 in the conference and 16-4 overall, while Clemson is now 12-8 overall and 2-4 in the ACC.
Swords finished the night shooting 11-for-13 (8-for-8 in the second half, 84.6 percent for the game) and six rebounds, while Mickel Picco added 17 points. Senior Brittanny Johnson came off the bench and added eight points, four rebounds and three assists, while sophomore Jaclyn Thoman notched six rebounds and five assists.
The Eagles broke the game open in the second half, holding Clemson to just 15 total points on 3-for-30 shooting. BC opened the half with a 9-3 run behind three points from Stefanie Murphy (7 pts., 5 rebs., 2 blocks) and four from Swords. BC was up 42-39 at 16:54 and Clemson could not stop the Eagles.
A 13-1 run gave BC a 55-40 lead at the nine minute mark. In the run, Swords scored 11 points, while four different players - Picco, Thoman, Johnson and Corey Rusin - set up the Eagles center inside. In that spurt by BC, Clemson went 0-13 from the field. A three-pointer at 8:01 by Christy Brown was Clemson's second field goal of the half but it would not stop the Eagles offense. Picco would open up another run with two jumpers giving BC a 59-44 lead and the Tigers had now answers.
Boston College opened the game with an 8-2 run and held the lead most of the first half. Clemson went on a 7-2 run and BC was up only 21-19 with 7:48 to play in the half. The Tigers tied the game at 28-28 at 2:37 in the half and then went on an 8-5 run to take a three point lead (36-33) into the locker room.
The Eagles shot 51 percent from the field for the game but 55 percent in the second half, while Clemson went cold and shot just 10 percent in the second half and 28 percent for the game. BC owned the boards for the 17th time this season, 39-32.
Game Notes:
Mickel Picco extended her streak of making a three-pointer in 28 consecutive games, dating back to the 2007-08 season ... The Eagles received strong play off the bench from Corey Rusin (3 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds), Brittanny Johnson (8 pts., 3 assists) and Jasmine Gill (3 points, 2 rebounds)... Gill also hit her first career 3-pointer in the first half ... The Eagles held Clemson to just 15 second half points...Boston College will travel to Raleigh, NC to play NC State on Thursday, Jan. 29.
All photos by John Quakenbos.
