The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Falls to Clemson, 76-54
6/21/1999 | Women's Basketball
November 17, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. - The Clemson Lady Tigers, led by four players in double figures, defeated the Ole Miss women's basketball 76-54 Monday at Tad Smith Coliseum in the season opener for the Lady Rebels. The Lady Rebels begin the 1998-99 season 0-1, while Clemson improves to 2-0 on the year.
Senior Tarsha Bethley led the Lady Rebels with 16 points and six rebounds. She needs only 28 points to become the 18th Lady Rebel to notch a 1,000 points for her career. Junior Frankie Boyd got her first start for the Lady Rebels and added seven points on 3-of-4 from the field. Senior Lesli Vollrath chipped in eight points on 3-of-6 from the floor including two three-pointers.
Nikki Blassingame led Clemson with 16 points and nine boards, while Erin Batth added 15 points. Preseason Naismath candidate Itoro Umoh and preseason All-America candidate Amy Geren chipped in 14 a piece in the win.
"We gave them a game early on and then we let them take over at the end of the first half and into the second half," head coach Ron Aldy said. "We had two players come off the bench, TaShondrea Moton and Angela Davidson that showed some spark. Those are two that we least expected to come in and contribute. With the way we ended the first half and began the second, it's hard to find any bright spots."
Ole Miss was down four with a little over two minutes left in the first half, but Clemson went on a 8-1 run to build an 11-point halftime lead. In the second half Clemson maintained its double-digit lead, and increased it to 19 on a jumper by Erin Batth and Nikki Blassin that put the game out of reach.
The Lady Rebels shot 32.8 percent from the field, while Clemson shot 42.4 percent. The Lady Tigers outrebounded Ole Miss 50-36.
The loss marked the first time that the Lady Rebels had lost a season opener at home and only the second time they have lost their home opener in the 24-year history of the program.
The Lady Rebels will travel to Memphis Thursday to take on the Lady Tigers in a 7:00 p.m. game at the Elma Roane Field House. They return to Tad Smith Coliseum on Sunday in a 2:00 p.m. game versus Florida Atlantic. Fans who bring two canned goods will be admitted free.
