Monmouth Hawks (1-1, 0-0 MAAC) vs. Clemson Tigers (3-0, 0-0 ACC)
Saturday, November 19, 2016 | 1:00pm ET
OceanFirst Bank Center, West Long Branch, NJ
MEDIA :
TV - ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Bob Lampinen
Radio - WMCX 88.9 FM
Following its first season-opening win since 2010-2011 at Robert Morris, Monmouth University's women's basketball team fell to St. Francis Brooklyn 87-78 on Wednesday night. This was Monmouth's sixth loss in 58 career games against the Terriers. The Hawks have displayed depth in their first two games of the season, using 11 players in the first quarter at Robert Morris and 12 total against St. Francis Brooklyn. After losing four of its five top scorers from last year, Monmouth added eight new players, including six freshmen.
One of those freshmen is Rosa Graham, who scored 14 points off the bench at Robert Morris and 19 points off the bench against St. Francis Brooklyn. Graham added six assists and five steals in Monmouth's loss against the 2014-15 NEC Champion. Veterans Tyese Purvis and Helena Kurt have also impressed, with Purvis scoring 29 points in the first two games. Kurt has added 20 points with 11 assists in the first two contests and had a career-high six steals at St. Francis Brooklyn.
The Hawks now set their sights on ACC opponent Clemson for Saturday's home opener, a team that went 9-21 last year but has jumped out to a 3-0 record this season. Monmouth seeks its first win over an ACC opponent, holding a 0-11 record to this point. Through two games, Monmouth leads the MAAC in scoring (73.5 PPG) and three-point field goals made (22).
SCOUTING THE CLEMSON TIGERS
Although Clemson does not have a senior on its roster, three players are averaging double-figures in juniors Alexis Carter and Nelly Perry along with freshman Kobi Thornton. Thornton is also recording 8.7 rebounds per game, including 11 against Georgia Southern on Wednesday. The Tigers are averaging 66.7 points per game in their three wins while holding opponents to just 55.7 points per game.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. CLEMSON TIGERS
Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Monmouth and Clemson. Monmouth is 0-11 all-time against the Atlantic Coast Conference, with the last game at #4 Duke on December 30, 2012 when the Hawks fell 73-32.
