DECEMBER 1, 1999

RELEASE: UPON RECEIPT

CLEMSON HOLDS OFF FURMAN AT TIMMONS ARENA

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman's Lady Paladin basketball team took a two-point lead into the halftime locker room Wednesday night, but was unable to hold off a determined Clemson team which pulled out a 57-52 victory in Timmons Arena.

The Lady Paladins outrebounded Clemson 20-15 in the first half and 44-38 in the game, but the Tigers connected on 19-of-26 foul shots to the Lady Paladins' 14-of-20 and made one more field goal for the difference.

Furman led by one with 6:25 to go, but Datishella Byrd connected on a layup with 5:03 on the clock to give Clemson a one point lead, which it held for the remainder of the game. Byrd also connected on a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left to give the Tigers an eight point advantage.

Furman, on the other hand, scored just six points in the final 6:25 of the game.

"We couldn't hit our shots when we needed them, but we gelled together more and didn't turn the ball over as much," said senior Jackie Smith. "We really executed. To come so close and not pull one out is why it hurt so much. Our defense stepped up a lot, but it slipped past us."

The Lady Paladins were led by Smith who recorded her 35th career double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Kena Hodges and Tara Charles each added nine points. Clemson's Byrd paced the Lady Tigers with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Chrissy Floyd added eight points.

"It took both teams a little while to get started. We had some good looks at it, but we just couldn't pull it out. Like every game, we hope to build on this game. We did some things well, but there are others that we have to do better."

Furman, 1-3 on the year, plays at East Tennessee State Saturday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m., while the Tigers, 4-1, are in action at Georgia Tech the same day in a 2 p.m. tipoff.

For More Information Contact: Teri Brinkman

(864) 294-3065