Really disappointing performance after coming off a win versus Virginia Tech. Clemson was picked in the preseason by both the coaches and a Blue Ribbon panel as 13th among 15 teams in the ACC. Last year it was 3-15 in the league, yet opened with a 71-55 win at Notre Dame. This wasn't an encouraging sign.
The Irish are now 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the league. They don't play again until Dec. 31 at Miami.
• ND' was down by 20 at halftime (42-22) and trailed by as much as 27 in the second half.
• The starting lineup with Westbeld, Vaughn, Gilbert, Peoples and Mabrey combined to shoot 7 of 32 from the field.
• Westbeld finally had her first off game shooting (1 of 9) but still led the team in rebounds (11) and assists (5).
• The leading scorers came off the bench, Destinee Walker (14) and Abby Prohaska (12). Walker hadn't even played the past six quarters because the team seemed to be establishing more of an 8-person rotation. Now, it might be back to square one with rotation.
Something just isn't clicking consistently among all the individual parts while adjusting to a new coach and voice. I'm still counting on that by the end of January something starts to jell and a rhythm is found to become an NCAA Tournament team. Have to start first with getting back-to-back wins with much better and committed defense and more movement on offense.
Here is the box score.
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=320639