ATLANTA (Interstat) — Talayah Walker scored 22 points and Georgia Tech closed on a 9-3 run to defeat Clemson 58-55 in an Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Hank McCamish Pavilion. The Yellow Jackets (8-10, 2-3 ACC) trailed by six entering the fourth quarter but outscored the Lady Tigers 19-12 in the final period. Walker was pivotal late, making four free throws in the final 11 seconds to secure the win. Brianna Turnage anchored Georgia Tech with 18 rebounds and four assists. Clemson (12-6, 3-3) led 36-25 at halftime but managed only six points in the third quarter. The Lady Tigers were led by Raven Thompson’s 19 points. A crowd of 6,125 watched the back-and-forth contest where neither team led by more than nine points.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive grit and a dramatic final minute, the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team edged Clemson 58-55 on Sunday at Hank McCamish Pavilion, snapping a two-game skid and handing the Lady Tigers a costly Atlantic Coast Conference defeat. The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 11 seconds, a sequence of clutch free throws and a desperate heave that decided the outcome. With Georgia Tech clinging to a 56-55 lead, Clemson’s Raven Thompson was called for a foul on Talayah Walker, sending the Yellow Jackets guard to the line with five seconds remaining. Walker, who finished with a game-high 22 points, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to three. Clemson, out of timeouts, rushed the ball upcourt. Mia Moore found Thompson beyond the arc for a contested three-point attempt at the buzzer that missed, sealing the victory for the home team before a crowd of 6,125. The finish capped a contest where neither team led by more than seven points. Clemson started strong, using an early burst to take a 19-17 lead after the first quarter. The Lady Tigers’ offense then went cold, managing only 11 points in the second quarter and a mere six in the third, allowing Georgia Tech to slowly claw back and build a slim lead. Georgia Tech’s victory was anchored by a monumental performance from forward Brianna Turnage. The Atlanta native dominated the glass, pulling down 18 rebounds to go with six points, four assists and three blocked shots in 39 minutes. Her defensive presence inside was a constant disruptor for Clemson’s offense, particularly during its scoring droughts. Clemson was led by Raven Thompson, who scored 15 points, and Demeara Hinds, who added 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench. The Lady Tigers held advantages in points in the paint, 30-24, and points off turnovers, 7-5, but were ultimately undone by their prolonged scoring lapse in the middle quarters and Georgia Tech’s composure at the foul line down the stretch. The Yellow Jackets, who improved to 8-10 overall, received key contributions beyond Walker and Turnage. La’Nya Foster scored 11 points, while point guard Erica Moon directed the offense with seven assists. Center Ariadna Termis of Spain controlled the interior with 10 rebounds and two blocks. For Clemson, which fell to 12-6, Moore facilitated with six assists and Rachael Rose scored 11 points, but the team’s shooting failed in critical moments. The loss halted a two-game winning streak for the Lady Tigers in ACC play. Georgia Tech, which entered the game with a 62.7 percent probability to win according to National Statistical’s ELO system, leveraged its home court and a staunch defensive effort to secure the win. The Yellow Jackets’ ability to close the game at the free-throw line, making crucial shots under pressure, proved the final difference in a tense, low-scoring affair. Both teams continue ACC play next Sunday. Georgia Tech travels to face Duke, while Clemson returns home to host Wake Forest. The two teams will meet again in Clemson on Feb. 12.

Preview: Clemson Lady Tigers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Clemson Lady Tigers, riding a wave of early conference success, will visit the struggling Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball matchup Sunday at Hank McCamish Pavilion. Clemson (12-5, 3-1 ACC) enters having won five of its last six, including a 75-65 home victory over North Carolina State on Thursday. The Lady Tigers’ conference start is among their best in recent seasons. Georgia Tech (7-10, 1-3), meanwhile, seeks to regain momentum after a narrow 61-59 home loss to Virginia on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets have lost three of their last four, with all three defeats coming by three points or fewer. A key matchup will feature Clemson’s Raven Thompson against Georgia Tech’s Brianna Turnage. Thompson, coming off a 14-point, 4-assist effort against NC State, has been a consistent scorer, including a 24-point performance in a win at Miami. Turnage provides a different threat for the Yellow Jackets, serving as a versatile facilitator and rebounder. She recorded a triple-double with 13 rebounds and 10 assists in an overtime win over Notre Dame on Jan. 1. Clemson’s offense has found its rhythm in ACC play, averaging 70.3 points in its four conference games. Beyond Thompson, guards Rachael Rose (19 points vs. NC State) and Mia Moore have provided balanced scoring. Georgia Tech’s challenge has been closing out tight games. Their three ACC losses have come by a combined eight points. They will rely on Talayah Walker, who scored 21 points against Virginia, to provide offensive punch alongside Turnage’s all-around game. This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again at Clemson on Feb. 12. The game tips off Sunday afternoon as Clemson looks to solidify its standing in the ACC and Georgia Tech aims to salvage a critical home contest to reverse its early conference fortunes.