North Carolina Beats Clemson for Third-Straight Win

Addie Porter looks to pass the ball vs. North Carolina, on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at Littlejohn Coliseum, in Clemson, South Carolina. Photo By John Meldrum

North Carolina moves to 21-4 overall on the season and 9-3 within ACC play, while Clemson falls to 11-13 overall and 4-9 within the ACC. This is the Tigers' fourth straight loss and eighth loss in nine games. Clemson struggled to score against the ACC's best defense, which made the mountain too tall for the Tigers to climb. Reniya Kelly was the X-factor for the Tar Heels as she scored 17 points along with eight rebounds and three assists on 6/14 shooting from the floor, while Loyal McQueen was the best player for the Tigers, scoring 17 points along with three rebounds on 6/13 shooting from the field and 5/5 from the free throw line. 

Both teams showed their prowess defensively early, limiting the other team's chances to score from the field. Four minutes into the afternoon matinee, the Tar Heels were shooting 20% from the field while the Tigers were shooting 16.7%. At the first media timeout, North Carolina led 6-3, with both teams still struggling to find a way to score. Out of the timeout, Hannah Kohn was able to sink a deep ball to cut the UNC lead to just one. Then, Maddi Cluse hit back-to-back threes to continue her dominant stretch of late and put the Tigers up by two late in the first quarter. At the end of the first quarter, Clemson led 15-12 with four made three-pointers and suffocating defense, holding the Tar Heels to 22.2% shooting from the field and 18.2% from behind the arc. The Tigers continued their suffocating defense to start the second quarter, forcing two quick turnovers. As the quarter went on, the Tar Heels were able to find their footing on the offensive side of the ball with a layup from Maria Gakdeng and Alyssa Ustby to tie the game at 16 apiece. After North Carolina tied the game up, the Tigers went on a three-minute scoring drought but were lucky that the Tar Heels went on a similar rut as them as the game stayed tied with 5 minutes to go in the half. With three minutes to go in the half, the Tigers were 0/7 from the field in the second quarter, while the Tar Heels were 2/7 as both defenses were playing terrific defense. At the half, Clemson held a 25-22 lead in one of the lowest-scoring halves for both teams. The Tigers' defense was suffocating throughout the half, holding the Tar Heels to just 28.6% shooting from the field and forcing 10 turnovers. 

To start the third quarter, neither team got off to a hot start, similar to the start of the first quarter when neither team could buy a basket. North Carolina eventually took the lead four minutes into the quarter after Indya Nivar's free throw put the Tar Heels up by one. At the media timeout, Raven Thompson's hook shot kept the Tigers in the game, and the Tar Heel lead at just one with a little over four minutes to go.

Clemson has kept games close against top-tier opponents all season, as seen against Notre Dame, NC State, and their win against California. Loyal McQueen came into this game struggling, with only 7 points per game in their last four, but with two minutes to go in the third quarter, McQueen had 13 points and was perfect from the free throw line. Heading into the fourth quarter, North Carolina led 37-36, with the Tigers well within striking distance of the thirteenth-ranked team in the nation. Out of the third quarter break, North Carolina got off to a quick start, hitting two of their first three shots to give themselves a three-point lead early in the final period. But, a Hannah Kohn deep ball and Maddi Cluse layup would give the Tigers a much-needed momentum boost and tie the game up at 43 apiece. The defense the Tigers played in the first three quarters started to wear off as Grace Townsend got going for the Tar Heels with a couple of fourth-quarter layups to put the Tar Heels in front by four late, but a Madi Ott three-pointer would give the Tigers a two-point lead with just two minutes to go. Ott's three-pointer wouldn't be enough for the Tigers as Reniya Kelly's elbow jumper iced the game for the Tar Heels. It's a tough loss for Shawn Poppie's team, as they were in it from start to finish, but the Tigers could use this as fuel to finish the season on the right note. Clemson plays next against Georgia Tech on Thursday, February 13, at 7:00 PM.