CLEMSON – Basketball is notoriously a game of momentum, and this season, the Clemson Tigers have been on the wrong end of decisive, streaky scoring runs in all four of their losses.
However, thanks to a 17-0 Clemson-led run in the first quarter and eight first-half three pointers, the Tigers secured a 73-41 win over the Pitt Panthers at Littlejohn Coliseum Sunday, and got a little pay back in the process.
The win marked the Tigers’ second-largest margin of victory this season, the largest win over a Power Conference team under Shawn Poppie, and the biggest win over an ACC team since 2019.
However, the first burst of momentum belonged to the Panthers, who forced three quick Clemson turnovers and took an early 7-3 lead. Four of the early points came in transition off of steals.
Rusne Augustinaite was not ready to succumb to an early deficit. The Georgia Tech transfer scored the Tigers’ first seven points in the first five minutes of play to cut the lead 9-7. After a layup from Raven Thompson tied the score 9-9, the Tigers never trailed again.
With six more additional first quarter points from Augustinaite, a three-pointer from veteran guard Mia Moore, and baskets from three more Tigers, Clemson increased its lead up to 22-9 to conclude the first quarter.
In that span, Clemson shot 42% from beyond the arc, and 57% from the field. Defensively, the Panthers had no chance to get back in the game as the Tigers forced four early takeaways and recorded eight points off of these turnovers.
Things did not get much better for the Panthers in the second quarter, as the Tigers added to an already steep lead with five made three pointers. Hannah Kohn, one of Clemson’s three returning players this year, knocked down 3-of-4 from three-point land.
Kohn finished with 13 points, tying her season high, and grabbed seven rebounds, the most by any player except for center Demeara Hinds.
Augustinaite led all scorers with 19 points, tying her season-high and just four points short of her career high. The junior knocked down a team-high four threes on 4-of-6 shooting.
Moore and point guard Rachael Rose also finished in double figures, and combined for five of Clemson’s 11 made free throws.
Clemson dropped another 22 points on the Panthers in the third quarter, and coasted to a comfortable 30-plus point lead for the majority of the second half.
The Tigers beat the Panthers 47 to 26 in the rebounding battle, notched 14 assists to Pitt’s three, and shot nearly 80% from the free throw line.
When It Was Over
When Augustinaite knocked down her second three-pointer of the night to take an initial 22-9 lead, you could feel the energy drain out of Pitt’s bench as coach Tory Verdi signaled for a timeout. The Tigers never led by less than 10 again.
Notable Statistic
Clemson’s eight three-pointers in the first half were only shy of nine first half threes against American University on Nov. 13. The final 10 makes from beyond the arc is the second-most this year, and the greatest among Power Conference competition.
Up Next
The Tigers will have their next chance to grab another win this Wednesday, when Clemson will travel to take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Buccaneer Fieldhouse. Tip is set for 11 a.m. and coverage will be shown on ESPN.