Clemson, S.C. – Opening their season on the road against an in-state foe, Winthrop fought the Tigers for a half but eventually fell to Clemson by a final score of 71-41 on Monday morning at Littlejohn Coliseum.
 
Winthrop (0-1) | Clemson (1-0)
Nov. 6, 2023 | Littlejohn Coliseum
Clemson 71, Winthrop 41
 
How it Happened
 
First Quarter | Clemson started the day with a 9-0 lead and holding Winthrop scoreless for half the quarter. Ronaltha Marc tacked on the Eagles' first points of the season on a jumper at the 5:08 mark and then Marissa Gasaway scored on a layup a few plays later to cut the deficit to five. Clemson scored seven more points for the rest of the quarter and making the score 16-4 Tigers but Jada Ryce scored with 33 seconds left to leave Winthrop down 10 at 16-6 going to the second frame.
 
Second Quarter | Leonor Paisana drained one from deep for the first score of the second quarter to make it a seven-point game. After a Tiger score, Marc made it 18-11 on a layup but the Eagles then went more than four minutes without scoring. Trailing 21-11, Ryce ended the drought with a layup to cut it to eight at the 4:34 mark and Claudia Clement hit two straight layups to make it a four-point game with two minutes remaining. The Tigers answered on the next play with a layup but Marc answered right back with a layup of her own. Clemson then scored with just three seconds left in the half and went into the locker room up 25-19.
 
Third Quarter | Clemson began the second half with a layup only for Gasaway to hit two free throws while Marc made a layup to make it a four-point affair at 27-23. The Tigers responded with seven straight points to go up double digits at 34-23 but Paisana stopped the run with a layup to make it a nine-point game at the 5:32 mark. This was Winthrop's only score for the next five minutes. Clemson then began to pull away with an 11-2 run to go up 18 at 45-27 with 3:29 left in the frame, forcing Winthrop to call a timeout. Immediately following the stoppage of play, Nyah Stallings got the first score of her Eagle career on a three-pointer to make it a 15-point contest but six more points by the Tigers took their lead up to 21. Gasaway then added one more score for both teams in the quarter with a minute left and Winthrop went into the final quarter down 51-32.
 
Fourth Quarter | The Tigers began the final quarter with seven straight points to take their margin up to 26 as the Eagles failed to score for nearly the first five minutes of the frame. Marc and Ryce answered with consecutive scores to make it 58-36 with five minutes left in the contest. Clemson wrapped up the day by scoring 13 of the last 18 points to take the win 71-41.
 
Statistical Standouts (Team)

• Winthrop moves to 598-892 all-time as a program.
• Of the 11 new players that are on the roster, eight made their Eagle debut this morning.
• The Eagles are now 15-27 all-time in season openers.
• Winthrop outscored Clemson 13-9 in the second quarter.
• Gasaway nearly recorded a double-double in her first game as an Eagle.

 
Statistical Standouts (Individual)
Ronaltha Marc (31 min, 5-14 FG, 10 pts)
Marissa Gasaway (29 min, 9 rebounds, 8 pts)
Jada Ryce (31 min, 2 steals, 6 pts)
Claudia Clement (21 min, 6 rebounds, 4 pts)
 
Up Next
Winthrop will travel to Tuscaloosa for a 5:30 matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday, Nov. 10.
 
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