CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson delivered a dramatic comeback Sunday afternoon, outlasting Wake Forest 78–71 in overtime at Littlejohn Coliseum behind a flurry of late-game heroics and balanced scoring.
Senior guard Rachael Rose paced the Tigers with a season-high 20 points, while fellow senior Mia Moore turned the extra session into her personal showcase. Moore scored a program-record 10 points in overtime and finished with 16 overall as Clemson improved to 13–6 on the season and 4–3 in ACC play.
Clemson once again relied on depth and perimeter shooting to secure the win. Rusne Augustinaite also chipped in 16 points, while graduate forward Demeara Hinds and senior forward Raven Thompson added 10 points apiece. The Tigers connected on double-digit three-pointers for the eighth time this season, a key factor in overcoming Wake Forest’s efficient offense.
The victory marked Clemson’s first overtime game of the season and the 59th in program history. With the win, the Tigers improved to 34–25 all-time in overtime contests. Head coach Shawn Poppie earned his fourth career overtime victory and moved to 2–1 in such games during his Clemson tenure.
Wake Forest (12–8, 2–6 ACC) shot an impressive 47.5 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc, placing four players in double figures. Grace Oliver led the Demon Deacons with a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite Wake Forest controlling much of regulation, Clemson refused to fold. The Tigers led for just 28 seconds across the first 40 minutes and trailed by six entering the fourth quarter. When Wake Forest opened the final period with a three-pointer to stretch the lead to 10, Clemson appeared on the brink.
Instead, the Tigers surged. Over the final 6:57 of regulation, Clemson went on a 15–5 run, fueled by defensive stops and timely shots. Hinds calmly knocked down two free throws with 0.2 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Once the game moved beyond regulation, Moore took over. She drilled her first three-pointer of the afternoon one minute into overtime to give Clemson its first lead since the second quarter. With under a minute left and the Tigers clinging to a three-point edge, Moore buried another three to push the lead to six. She then sealed the win at the free-throw line, converting four foul shots in the final 30 seconds to complete her record-setting overtime performance.
Clemson’s resilience and late execution proved decisive, as the Tigers closed out a hard-fought victory in front of the home crowd.
