GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of momentum, the Clemson women’s basketball team erased a 15-point deficit with a furious fourth-quarter rally to stun Duke 53-51 in an Atlantic Coast Conference thriller Sunday at Bi-Lo Center.

The Lady Tigers, trailing by 12 entering the final period, outscored the Blue Devils 23-12 over the last 10 minutes, capping the comeback with a game-winning 3-pointer from Hannah Kohn with three seconds remaining.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the final sequence, a chaotic flurry that saw three lead changes in the last nine seconds. With Duke clinging to a 51-50 lead after a pair of clutch free throws from Clemson’s Demeara Hinds, the Blue Devils inbounded with 12 seconds left. A desperate heave from Riley Nelson connected for a 3-pointer, silencing the crowd of 3,218 and seemingly stealing victory for Duke with nine seconds on the clock, putting the Blue Devils ahead 51-50.

Clemson called a full timeout and advanced the ball. On the ensuing inbounds play, Mia Moore drove and kicked to a wide-open Kohn on the left wing. Kohn, who had missed her first four attempts from beyond the arc, calmly sank the triple to put Clemson up 53-51 with three seconds to go. Duke’s final attempt, a long inbound pass, was deflected as time expired, sealing a remarkable victory for the home team.

The finish was a stark contrast to the game’s opening. Duke dominated the first quarter, using its size and defensive intensity to build a 20-8 lead. Toby Fournier, the Blue Devils’ standout forward from Toronto, was instrumental early, scoring eight points, blocking two shots and anchoring a defense that held Clemson to 3-of-14 shooting in the period.

Clemson chipped away in the second quarter, winning the frame 15-9 behind six points from Morgan Lee to cut Duke’s halftime lead to 29-23. The Blue Devils’ offense, however, continued to sputter in the third, managing only 10 points. Their defense maintained control, limiting the Lady Tigers to seven points in the quarter to take a 39-30 advantage into the final break.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Clemson. The Lady Tigers attacked the basket relentlessly, drawing fouls and converting at the line. They shot 11-for-12 on free throws for the game, with nine of those makes coming in the final period. Hinds, a force inside, scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth, including four crucial free throws. Moore, the primary ball-handler, orchestrated the comeback, dishing out three of her six assists in the quarter while adding five points.

Duke’s offense never found a consistent rhythm. The Blue Devils shot a respectable 43.8% from the field but were plagued by 17 turnovers and managed only five assists against Clemson’s defensive pressure. Fournier led all scorers with 18 points and added seven rebounds and three blocks. Nelson contributed 10 points for Duke.

Clemson’s victory was built on resilience and efficiency down the stretch. Despite shooting just 32.1% overall, the Lady Tigers won the rebounding battle 38-31, including a 10-6 edge on the offensive glass, and committed five fewer turnovers. Taylor Johnson-Matthews joined Hinds and Moore in double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Duke, which fell to 20-7 overall and saw its hopes for a high seed in the ACC tournament dented. Clemson improved to 19-9, securing a pivotal Quadrant 1 victory that will bolster its NCAA tournament resume.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Duke entered with an 88.4% probability to win and was a 13.5-point pregame favorite. The combined score of 104 points fell well under the over/under line of 125.5.

Duke will look to regroup when it hosts Florida State on Thursday. Clemson begins a challenging West Coast road trip at California the same night.