Waters Ties School Record with Career High 40 Points to Lead Deacs Past Tigers 86-64
Feb. 24, 2011
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CLEMSON, S.C. -
Senior Brittany Waters turned in a career high and school record-tying 40 points as the Wake Forest women's basketball team defeated Clemson 86-64 Thursday evening at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Waters tied the Wake Forest school record set back on February 21, 2005, when Liz Strunk scored 40 points, also at Clemson. Waters' recorded her previous career-high of 33 points against Miami (Ohio) on November 21, 2009.
With the win, Wake Forest improves to 13-16 (4-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) on the season, while Clemson drops to 10-18 (3-10 ACC). The game also marks the second road win of the year for the Deacs.
In addition to her 40 points, Waters grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds to record her fourth double-double of the season, and her first since January 6th against Hampton.
Two other Deacons scored in double figures on the evening, as freshman Chelsea Douglas added 14 points and sophomore Sandra Garcia chipped in with 10. Douglas also dished out five assists to tie her career-high, and sophomore guard Lakevia Boykin contributed five assists, as well.
Sthefany Thomas led Clemson with 14 points, while Lindsey Mason chipped-in with 10.
The Deacs had a terrific offensive performance, shooting 46.9 percent from the floor on 30-of-64 shooting, including 32 percent from long range. Wake sank 17-of-20 shots from the charity stripe for 85 percent, their second-highest mark of the season.
Wake Forest committed only nine turnovers during the game, their lowest total of the season, in addition to collecting 22 points off of 17 Tiger turnovers. The Deacs' previous low for turnovers was 13, which they recorded back on January 31 in an 82-64 win over Boston College.
Both teams traded baskets early in the first half, but the Deacs built a small lead at 18-13 around the 9:10 mark after a lay-up from Patrice Johnson and a pair of free throws from freshman Chelsea Douglas.
The Tigers then reeled off a 17-2 run sparked by a trio of three-pointers from Bryelle Smith, Kirstyn Wright, and Sthefany Thomas to take a 30-20 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the half.
Douglas nailed a three for the Deacs to trim the lead to five at 30-25, and the teams would continue to trade baskets until Waters knocked down a huge shot from long-range with just nine seconds remaining in the half. The bucket provided a great deal of momentum for Wake Forest, as they headed into the break trailing only 34-32.
Waters continued to have the hot hand for the Deacs in the second half, as she drilled a three-pointer just seconds into the start of the half to give the Deacs a 35-34 lead.
The score remained knotted at 44 at the 14:15 mark, but Wake Forest scored on their next four possessions, including five points from Waters, to build a 54-47 lead.
The Deacs would continue to add to this lead behind the scoring efforts of Waters, as the Orlando, Fla. native netted several more three-pointers, including one at the 4:05 mark to tie her previous career high of 33 points. She scored 26 of her 40 points in the second half.
Wake Forest will conclude regular-season play Sunday afternoon when they host in-state rival N.C. State for Senior Day. The contest will begin at 2 p.m., with Waters and fellow senior Kem Wilson honored prior to tip-off.
