Jan. 22, 1998

Clemson Defeats Georgia Tech, 79-56

CLEMSON, SC-- Nikkie Blassingame and Kerri Thomas combined for 28 points and 17 rebounds Thursday night to lead 19th ranked (22nd in USA Today) Clemson to a 79-56 victory over Georgia Tech at Littlejohn Coliseum. The victory improved Clemson's record to 15-3 overall, 7-1 in the ACC, while Georgia Tech fell to 8-9 overall, 2-6 in the ACC.

The game closed out the first half of the ACC schedule for both teams. Clemson's 7-1 record is the best in Clemson history at the midway point of the conference schedule. Clemson will travel to Duke for a Sunday afternoon game.

The victory moved Clemson into first place. North Carolina defeated NC State Thursday night, handing the Wolfpack its second loss against six victories.

Blassingame and Thomas each scored 14 points for the Lady Tigers, who had 41 points from its post players. Blassingame tied her career and Thomas was just two points short of her career best. The duo shot 13-22 from the field and had five offensive rebounds apiece.

Itoro Umoh had 13 points and four steals, while freshman Erin Batth had 11 points in just 13 minutes. She was a perfect 5-5 from the field. Clemson won the rebounding battle 43-40 and committed only nine turnovers for the entire game. Clemson also had a large margin at the foul line, hitting 10-14, while Tech made just 11-23.

Clemson opened a 24-9 lead in the first 11 minutes of the game behind its frontcourt game. In fact, 18 of Clemson's first 24 points were scored by post players. Thomas scored Clemson's first six points and had 12 total in the first half on 6-8 shooting. Clemson increased the lead to 17 at intermission, 39-22.

The Lady Tigers had been paced by their guards this year, as Amy Geren, Itoro Umoh and Natasha Anderson came into the game averaging 36 points per game. But, the trio had just four field goals in the first half, while the post players had 12 buckets.

Clemson increased the lead to 58-34 at the 10 minute mark of the second half, as the guards got back into the scoring action. Reserve guard Nuria Forns hit a pair of three point goals off the bench and Itoro Umoh scored a couple of fastbreak baskets.

Georgia Tech was led by Kenya Williams with 15 points. The other four Tech starters scored either eight or nine points. Joanna Kauffman nearly had a double double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Shelli Novotny had eight points and seven assists.

Georgia Tech battled and cut the lead to 17 on two occasions, but could get no closer o the Lady Tigers, who had 10 different players score in the contest.

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