The Clemson women’s basketball team returned to Littlejohn Coliseum on Monday to begin its second season under head coach Shawn Poppie, after a 14-17 season and No. 13 finish in the ACC last season.

The Tigers began their season with a dominant 76-38 win over USC Upstate on “Education Day” in front of thousands of local students.

The victory comes following a sour end to last season, when the Tigers suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to Louisville in the ACC Tournament and missed the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

The team was led by Georgia Tech transfer junior guard/forward Rusne Augustinaite, who scored a team-high 19 points, and senior guard Mia Moore, who added 17 of her own. The Tigers came out with momentum early, as a 21-2 run allowed them to jump out to a 29-7 lead at the end of the first half.

In addition to efficient scoring, the team demonstrated its defensive ability, holding the Spartans to 34.8% shooting from the field and just 31.3% from behind the 3-point line. While controlling the glass and posting a total of 36 rebounds to USC Upstate’s 26, as well as 12 steals and five blocks.

The second half held more of the same results, as the Tigers continued their dominant performance and extended their lead to 35 at the end of the third period. From behind the arc, the Tigers looked efficient as Augustinaite totaled four 3-pointers and junior guard Hannah Kohn made two of her own to give the Tigers momentum during their second quarter run.

Poppie’s squad ended the game with a comfortable 38-point lead and will head into its next game with a record of 1-0 as the team looks to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. The second-year head coach has brought a new spark in his first two seasons, and will continue his effort as the season progresses.

The Tigers will try to remain undefeated as they face off against Mercer on the road in Macon, Georgia, on Thursday at 7 p.m.