• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

No. 7 Maryland cruises past Clemson

Feb 15, 2013 - 3:29 AM College Park, MD (Sports Network) - Tianna Hawkins recorded a double-double to lead No. 7 Maryland to a 75-45 win over Clemson on Thursday.

Hawkins scored 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting and had 12 rebounds for the Terrapins (20-4, 11-2 ACC), who came into the game off a loss against Duke. Alyssa Thomas was the only other Maryland player to record double-digits in points with 17.

"I thought Tianna was terrific," said Maryland head coach Brenda Frese. "She scored in so many different ways for us. I thought that was a huge spark in terms of bouncing back and being ready to play tonight. I thought she did a terrific job."

Nikki Dixon had a team-high 13 points for Clemson (6-18, 2-11 ACC), which has lost four straight and six of its past seven games.

"We knew if we let Hawkins and Thomas go off early, then we were in for a long night," said Clemson coach Itoro Coleman. "That's exactly what happened. Maryland pretty much owned the boards offensively. That was our focus coming into the game. I told our team before the game, when you get an opportunity to play a team that is nationally ranked, your margin of error is very slim. I think we got very frustrated early on."

Clemson's Quinyotta Pettaway scored the first points of the game, but it would be the only time the Tigers would have the lead.

Hawkins was efficient in the first half, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Terrapins held a 33-25 margin at the break.

Hawkins and Thomas then helped Maryland pull away early in the second half, as the two combined for a 17-4 run to give the Terrapins a 50-29 advantage with 14:20 left to play.

A free throw by Natiece Ford and a 3-pointer by Kelly Gramlich got Clemson within 17, 50-33, with 13:14 remaining. However, it was the closest the Tigers could reach.