Storrs, CT - Senior guard Sam Brigham had 17 points and seven rebounds, while senior center Jess Fuller added 14 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, but it was not enough as Clemson escaped with a 69-68 victory over Hofstra on day two of the WBCA Classic in Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.

Hofstra falls to 3-2 with the loss, while Clemson improves to 4-2 with the victory.

The Pride was seeking its first-ever win against a school currently in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as they entered the contest with an 0-12 all-time mark against the ACC.

A back and forth first half would see neither team able to seize control as Hofstra recovered from a narrow 17-13 deficit with a quick 5-0 run, aided by an old-fashioned three-point play from Brigham.  A pair of free throws from Brigham with 1:53 left in the stanza would give Hofstra a 31-30 advantage, but Clemson closed the half with four straight points to lead 34-31 at the break.  Brigham led all scorers with 12 first half points, while Fuller had six points and three blocks in the opening twenty minutes.

Hofstra would dig itself a small hole early in the second half as they fell behind 36-31 before an 8-0 Pride run allowed Hofstra to take a 39-36 lead following a free throw from Fuller.  With the game knotted at 39 later in the half, Hofstra had another answer as a 6-0 Pride run ensued and put Hofstra up 45-39 courtesy of a layup from sophomore forward Marie Malone at the 13-minute mark.

Brigham would continue her stellar day as she nailed a three-pointer from the wing off an assist from sophomore guard Asia Jenkins with 7:06 to play to put Hofstra ahead 59-52.

Down 61-54 after Hofstra's sophomore forward Joelle Connelly hit two free throws with 5:14 remaining, Lele Hardy hit two free throws and Shaniqua Pauldo drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to bring the Tigers to within 61-59.  Clemson would continue its run and eventually take a 62-61 lead as Keyrra Gillespie used an old-fashioned three-point play to put the Tigers back in front. 

Clemson would extend its advantage to 65-61 when Hardy responded with a three-pointer at the 1:41 mark.  Hofstra would equal to the task, though, as sophomore guard Nicole Capurso hit her first field goal of the game, a three-pointer with 1:24 to play to close the gap to 65-64.

Capurso, Hofstra's deadly outside shooter, would use her inside game to allow Hofstra to regain the lead as she got her own offensive rebound and sank a lay-up with 39.8 seconds remaining to put Hofstra back in front 66-65.

Hofstra looked to sink the game winner as sophomore guard Candice Bellocchio drove to the basket and drained a bucket with 13 seconds left after Pauldo had put the Tigers back in front with 20 ticks left on the clock.

It was not to be, though, as Bellocchio was whistled for a foul with 4.2 seconds left and Gillespie hit both free throws to give Clemson the victory and hand the heartbreaking loss to the Pride.

Hardy led Clemson with 19 points, while Gillespie added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.  Pauldo chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Connelly joined Brigham and Fuller in double figures as she had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Pride.  Bellocchio added eight points, seven assists and five rebounds for Hofstra.

Hofstra closes play at the WBCA Classic on Sunday when they take on Richmond at 2 p.m.