No. 7 Maryland cruises past Clemson
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Tianna Hawkins recorded a double-double to lead No. 7 Maryland to a 75-45 win over Clemson on Thursday.
Hawkins scored 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting and had 12 rebounds for the Terrapins (20-4, 11-2 ACC), who came into the game off a loss against Duke. Alyssa Thomas was the only other Maryland player to record double-digits in points with 17.
"I thought Tianna was terrific," said Maryland head coach Brenda Frese. "She scored in so many different ways for us. I thought that was a huge spark in terms of bouncing back and being ready to play tonight. I thought she did a terrific job."
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Nikki Dixon had a team-high 13 points for Clemson (6-18, 2-11 ACC), which has lost four straight and six of its past seven games.
"We knew if we let Hawkins and Thomas go off early, then we were in for a long night," said Clemson coach Itoro Coleman. "That's exactly what happened. Maryland pretty much owned the boards offensively. That was our focus coming into the game. I told our team before the game, when you get an opportunity to play a team that is nationally ranked, your margin of error is very slim. I think we got very frustrated early on."
Clemson's Quinyotta Pettaway scored the first points of the game, but it would be the only time the Tigers would have the lead.
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Hawkins was efficient in the first half, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Terrapins held a 33-25 margin at the break.
Hawkins and Thomas then helped Maryland pull away early in the second half, as the two combined for a 17-4 run to give the Terrapins a 50-29 advantage with 14:20 left to play.
A free throw by Natiece Ford and a 3-pointer by Kelly Gramlich got Clemson within 17, 50-33, with 13:14 remaining. However, it was the closest the Tigers could reach.