Hold that Tiger: Bobcat Women Knock off Clemson at SMU Tourney

Friday, November 23

Dallas, TX

7 p.m.

Montana State University

3-0

Clemson University

0-4

Montana State

Clemson

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

Hold that Tiger: Bobcat Women Knock off Clemson at SMU Tourney

11/23/2012 11:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Sophomore Kalli Durham posted a career-high 23 points, including a seven-of-16 effort from the field and three 3-pointers as the Montana State women’s basketball squad held on for a 58-52 win over Clemson, Friday night at the SMU Hoops for a Cure Classic in Moody Coliseum.

By: Tom Schulz

BOXSCORE: Montana State 58, Clemson 52 (pdf)

Sophomore Kalli Durham posted a career-high 23 points, including a seven-of-16 effort from the field and three 3-pointers as the Montana State women's basketball squad held on for a 58-52 win over Clemson, Friday night at the SMU Hoops for a Cure Classic in Moody Coliseum.

Montana State (3-0) jumped out early building a 15-2 lead midway through the opening stanza following a pair of Rachel Semansky free throws. The Bobcats entered intermission with a 31-16 advantage.

MSU took its largest lead of the game at 39-20 on a pair of Emily Allen charity tosses with 16:50 remaining. Clemson (0-4) rallied down the stretch as MSU went cold from the field and closed to within 53-49 with 34-seconds left. MSU received three free throw makes from Durham and two from freshman Lexi Dawkins to secure the win in the waning moments.

“We're fortunate to get the win,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “The second half in all three games this season has been poor and we have a lot of things that need to be cleaned up. We're giving away points at the free throw line and our inability to convert is destroying us in the second half. Fortunately,
we had a good first half and that carried us to the win.”

For the game, MSU shot a paltry 30 percent from the field and 61 percent from the free throw line. The Bobcats held a 44-40 margin in rebounding and forced the Tigers into 21 turnovers.

Also contributing to the Bobcats effort was Semansky and Jackie Elliott with seven points each, while Ashley Brumwell chipped in six points. Dawkins and Durham guided MSU under the boards with seven rebounds, apiece.

“Kalli really had a consistent game,” Binford said. “I was also happy with our depth and that everyone made a contribution.”

Clemson was paced in the loss by Danaejah Grant with 21 points and nine rebounds.

The Bobcats will face SMU in the championship game on Saturday at 6 p.m. (MST), while Clemson will play SIU-Edwardsville in the consolation contest.