Jan. 2, 2001
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland women's basketball team made a furious second-half comeback and took a commanding lead in overtime to upset nationally ranked Clemson (No. 18-AP, No. 23-ESPN/USA Today), 85-73 in overtime at Cole Field House on Tuesday night.
The Terps (10-3, 1-1 ACC), who trailed by as many as 12 with 15:55 left in regulation at 45-33, outscored the Tigers, 33-21 to end the second half and force overtime. Maryland used a 13-3 run midway though the second half to tie the game for the first time at 51-51 on a 3-point field goal by March? Strickland (team-high 20 points) with 7:55 left in regulation.
The game would be tied five more times in the final eight minutes with neither team being able to pull away and the margin of the game never getting to more than four. Maryland took a 66-64 lead on a pair of free throws by Renneika Razor (16 points) with 1:52 in the second half. As the team's continued to battle, Clemson's Julie Aderhold made one of two free throws to draw the Tigers within one at 66-65 with 1:19 left.
Clemson (10-3, 1-1 ACC) tied the game and sent it to overtime as Marci Glenney made the second of two foul shots with 0:43 left. The Terps had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but Strickland missed a 3-pointer with eight seconds left and Razor missed a jumper as time expired.
In overtime, the Terps dominated the Tigers outscoring them 19-7. Maryland had a strong overall performance as five players scored in double-figures led by Strickland (Kingston, Mass.) and Razor (New York, N.Y.). Freshman Kiki Wimbush (Suitland, Md.) tallied a career high with 14 points while Jamecca Harrell (Oxon Hill, Md.) and Rosita Melbourne (Washington, D.C.) chipped in with 13 apiece.
Maryland played tenacious defense throughout forcing Clemson into 28 turnovers including 17 in the second half and overtime. Maryland, which started the game off rough with 16 first-half turnovers committed just 11 in the second period and overtime in a sloppy game that saw the teams combine for 55 miscues.
Clemson was led by Chrissy Floyd, who had 20 (14 in the first half).
The win was Maryland's first over a ranked team since the Terps upset then. No. 16 Virginia to close out the 1999-2000 home regular season on Feb. 24, 2000. The win ended Clemson's nine-game win-streak.
Maryland travels to No. 24 Virginia Friday, where they will attempt to upset two ACC opponents in one week. The Tigers next date is with North Carolina on Jan. 8 at Littlejohn Coliseum. Both games tip-off at 7 p.m.
