Clinton went on the road Tuesday night to face a strong Meridian team that entered the matchup with a 7–1 record, and the Lady Maroons delivered a statement performance, pulling away for a convincing 55–33 win.
While Clinton struggled to find consistency from beyond the arc, their dominance in the paint proved to be the difference. Avery Smith and Lilah Cluver put together a standout showing down low, controlling the interior on both ends of the floor. Smith led all scorers with 16 points, using her physicality and touch around the basket to keep pressure on Meridian throughout the night. Cluver was equally impactful, serving as a force in the post and anchoring Clinton’s presence inside.
Carley Anderson helped balance the offense by knocking down several timely three-pointers, stretching the floor and giving the Lady Maroons key scoring bursts when needed.
Defensively, Clinton made adjustments to slow Meridian’s interior attack, going to a zone look to protect the paint. The defensive change limited scoring opportunities and helped Clinton gradually create separation on the scoreboard as the game wore on.
Following the game, Coach Williams pointed to the team’s challenging early-season schedule, noting that the tough tests have helped his group learn, grow, and thrive earlier in the season.
Clinton now turns its focus to Thursday night, when the Lady Maroons return home to host Roanoke.
Avery Smith talks about Clinton’s Win.
Coach Williams speaks after the Maroons conference W