Clemson Women's Basketball Dominates SMU with a 72-46 Road Victory

Loyal McQueen dribbles up court during their win over Miami earlier this season. (Photo By: Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

The Clemson Women’s Basketball team delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, using a dominant 22-4 run spanning halftime to cruise past SMU, 72-46, at Moody Coliseum. The victory marked the Tigers’ largest margin of victory in an ACC road game since February 16, 2019, when they defeated Boston College by 33 points.

Clemson Extends Winning Streak After Perfect Week

With this dominant win, Clemson (13-13, 6-9 ACC) capped off a perfect 2-0 week, having previously defeated No. 19 Georgia Tech, 68-61, on Thursday. The Tigers outscored the Mustangs (10-16, 2-12 ACC) 56-28 over the final three quarters, securing a statement road victory.

Loyal McQueen Shines in Clemson's Offensive Explosion

Guard Loyal McQueen played a key role in Clemson’s high-powered offense, contributing to 41 of the team’s 72 points. She finished with 21 points, shooting an efficient 9-of-15, and added eight assists.

Other key contributors included:

• Summah Evans: 14 points

• Tessa Miller: 10 rebounds, 7 points

• Anya Poole: 9 rebounds, career-high 5 blocks

Tigers Overcome Early SMU Lead with Strong Defensive Play

SMU jumped out to an early 10-2 lead in the first two minutes, but Clemson responded quickly, cutting the deficit to one just two minutes later. The Tigers trailed 18-16 after the first quarter but took control in the second.

A Hannah Kohn three-pointer gave Clemson its first lead at 19-18, and while SMU briefly reclaimed control at 26-23, the Tigers locked in defensively. They allowed just one field goal the rest of the half, closing on a 13-0 run to take a 38-28 halftime lead.

McQueen's First-Half Brilliance

McQueen was instrumental in the first half, scoring 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting and assisting on five other baskets. She accounted for 28 of Clemson’s 38 first-half points.

Meanwhile, Hannah Kohn made history, hitting her 70th three-pointer of the season, becoming just the fourth player in program history to reach that milestone.

Clemson Pulls Away in the Second Half

The Tigers continued their dominance, extending their lead to 45-30 just over three minutes into the third quarter after a Tessa Miller and-one conversion. A Raven Thompson basket in the final minute of the third quarter pushed the advantage to 20 points, and Clemson never looked back.

Rebounding Dominance Secures Clemson's Win

A major factor in Clemson’s victory was their superior rebounding, out-rebounding SMU 48-24, including an 18-5 edge in offensive boards. These second-chance opportunities led to 18 additional points, further cementing the Tigers' control over the game.

What’s Next for Clemson Women's Basketball?

The Tigers now shift their focus to their next ACC road matchup against Pittsburgh on February 23 at 1 p.m. at Petersen Events Center.