Injury struck the Clemson University women’s basketball team, causing the loss of the team’s leading offensive threat. Senior and top returning scorer, Nelly Perry, has undergone surgery for her shoulder. Coach Audra Smith announced the condition of Perry on Wednesday.
Due to the timing of the operation, Perry plans to take a medical redshirt for the year and rejoin the team post-rehabilitation in the 2018-19 season.
The Camden, New Jersey native averaged 12.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in the 26 games she played last season. Prior to the 2016-17 season, Perry averaged 14.3 points per game, good for 12th in the ACC during her sophomore (’15-’16) season and notched a career high 33 points against Boston College. 33 points is the most a player has accumulated in a single game since 2008 (clemsontigers.com).
Guards Jaia Alexander and Danielle Edwards are expected to compensate for the loss. Alexander was a standout player in the Towson, Maryland area and is entering her sophomore season. Edwards, a junior, is a three-year guard in the program and has started all 61 games of her career. She is ranked in the ACC with free throw percentage (sixth at .844) and steals (10th with 1.9).
The Clemson Tigers will kick-start their preseason schedule on November 10, facing Kennesaw State at 11 am E.T.