Van Lith's Career Night Powers Louisville Blowout Over Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Hailey Van Lith scored a career-high 34 points, 16 coming in the decisive third quarter, as No. 4 Louisville won its 10th straight over Clemson 93-71 on Thursday night.
The Cardinals (20-2, 10-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) reached the 20-victory mark for the 12th straight season. But not without the Tigers throwing a second-half scare their way.
Louisville had opened a 12-point lead in the second quarter, yet Clemson (7-15, 1-10) tied things at 44 on Amari Robinson’s three-point play shortly after halftime.
That’s when Van Lith got the Cardinals going. She broke the tie with a 3-pointer, then followed with a layup. Two minutes later, Van Lith added another 3 for a 10-point edge. She tacked on a three-point play and by the time Van Lith canned her fifth 3-pointer, the Cardinals were rolling, up 70-54 with 34.1 seconds to go in the third period as coach Jeff Walz punched the air in celebration of the made basket.
Van Lith finished 13 of 16 shooting overall and 6 of 6 from behind the arc.
Van Lith, a sophomore guard from Wenatchee, Washington, surpassed her previous career best of 24, set against Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament last March. Her six 3s matched her career high, accomplished twice last season, including the win over Wake.
Clemson hasn’t beaten Louisville since 1993, the Cardinals winning 10 straight meetings — all since Louisville joined the ACC — by an average margin of 24 points. And the Cards sure looked ready to pull away after closing the first quarter with a 15-2 run and grabbing a 40-28 with three minutes to go in the half.
They were up 40-28 on Mykasa Robinson’s basket with just over three minutes left in the half. But Clemson closed with an 11-4 burst off 3-pointers by Delicia Washington and Daisha Bradford and five points from Amari Robinson.
Washington, Clemson’s leading scorer this season, surpassed her average of 15.1 points by halftime with 18 off four 3-pointers.
Washington finished with a season high 28 points with five 3-pointers. Clemson’s Robinson had 18 points, but none after her game-tying basket.
Louisville, though, was dominant down low with 26 of its first-half points coming in the paint. The Cards also controlled the boards the first 20 minutes, 21-12.
THE BIG PICTURE
Louisville: The Cardinals have had quite the madcap road trip and have so far handled it in style. They rallied in the fourth quarter to win at Miami last Tuesday and pulled away in the second half at Clemson. They’ll close a stretch of four games on eight days Sunday at Syracuse.
Clemson: The Tigers took Louisville’s first burst at the end of the first quarter and fought back to tie one of the country’s best teams. But Clemson got worn down by the Cardinals and had no answer when Van Lith heated up. The Tigers’ 1-10 league mark is the worst start to ACC play in coach Amanda Butler’s four seasons.
UP NEXT
Louisville: finishes a three-game road trip at Syracuse on Sunday.
Clemson: goes to Virginia on Sunday.
(Photo of Hailey Van Lith: Alton Strupp - Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
Facebook - @LouisvilleOnSI
Twitter - @LouisvilleOnSI
Instagram - @louisville_report
You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter
