The Clemson Tigers dominated in the first game under head coach Shawn Poppie with a 78-44 victory over Jackson State on Monday in Littlejohn Coliseum.

After parting ways with former head coach Amanda Butler, there were several questions regarding the state of Clemson’s women’s basketball program, and the Tigers gave an emphatic answer to those questions in Monday’s game. Coming into the season, Clemson completely changed the landscape of its team by hiring a new coach and replacing nearly the entire squad with transfers.

The new additions led the way for the Tigers in the opening game against Jackson State, with only one returning player, Maddi Cluse, starting for Clemson. Tessa Miller, a senior forward who transferred from Belmont, showcased her effective scoring ability, leading the team with 17 points. Clemson was able to share the scoring role amongst its players, as five of them scored nine or more points, while the team totaled 22 assists to Jackson State’s five.

The most impressive feat of the game for Clemson was the ability to rebound on both sides of the court and remain dominant in the paint. The team totaled 59 rebounds, led by UAB transfer guard Mia Moore’s 11 rebounds, with 19 of the team’s rebounds coming on the offensive side of the ball. The Tigers were able to turn these offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points. Clemson exploited its ability to score down low with 44 points in the paint to Jackson State’s 24 throughout the game.

Under Poppie’s new leadership and a fresh set of faces in Tigertown, Clemson looks to return to its first NCAA Tournament since 2019 and its second in the last 20 years. Poppie is familiar with the tournament, leading Chattanooga to the previous two NCAA tournaments, where he was before joining the team in March.

The Tigers return to action to face NC Central on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Littlejohn Coliseum.