GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Playing in its first-ever ACC tournament game, Stanford lost 63-46 to Clemson on Wednesday night, ending the Cardinal’s run before it started.
For the 11th-seeded Cardinal (16-14), the upset loss in all likelihood ends their run of 36 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. It’s their first season under coach Kate Paye, the former guard and assistant to the legendary Tara VanDerveer, who retired last spring.
Courtney Ogden was the only Stanford player in double figures with 13 points. The Cardinal shot just 31%. Nunu Agara, the Cardinal’s leading scorer and rebounder, returned to action after playing just six minutes since an injury suffered Feb. 6 against Notre Dame. She scored eight points in 17 minutes. Stanford’s 46 points were the fewest it has scored this season.
Clemson’s Loyal McQueen scored 17 points, Mia Moore had 14 with four 3s, and Anya Poole added 12 for the Tigers, who shot 44% and made 8 of 17 3-pointers. Stanford made only three on 11 attempts.
Stanford led 6-0 before McQueen scored nine in the first quarter for an 11-10 lead. Anya Poole had eight points in the second quarter when the Tigers outscored Stanford by 16-6 to lead 27-16 at halftime. The Cardinal shot just 23% and had 10 turnovers.
Related Articles
Best of the West WBB power rankings: USC sweeps UCLA, Cal climbs ahead of ACC tourney, GCU stays sizzling
ACC settlement: What it means for Cal, Stanford, Florida State, UNC and CFB
Stanford women keep up hot play against Georgia Tech, cling to NCAA tournament hopes
Stanford AD Bernard Muir resigns: What the move says about the future of Cardinal football
Women’s basketball role reversal: Cal appears NCAA Tournament bound, Stanford does not
After a first half when neither team made a 3-pointer, Clemson hit five and Stanford three in the third quarter with the Tigers extending an 11-point halftime lead to 18. The Cardinal had cut the lead to seven then Clemson hit four straight from the arc, including Moore’s second and third of the quarter.
Clemson led by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter.
The 14-seed Tigers (14-16) will take on six-seed Louisville in Thursday’s second round. Clemson lost to the Cardinals 78-52 on Feb. 27.
