CLEMSON – After shooting just 15 percent from beyond the arc in a loss to rival South Carolina Tuesday, the Clemson Tigers bounced back with nine first-half three-pointers on nearly 50 percent shooting for a 78-38 win over American University at Littlejohn Coliseum Thursday.

Less than 48 hours after the loss to the Gamecocks, it did not take head coach Shawn Poppie’s Tigers (3-1) to knock down the shots that evaded them Tuesday. In her first start as a Tiger, guard Rusne Augustinaite knocked down a three-pointer to open all scoring, after finishing just 1-of-12 from the field Tuesday.

After the Eagles (1-1) answered with a triple of their own, Augustinaite and the Tigers went on a 20-6 run to end the first quarter, powered by two three-pointers and a layup from guard Mia Moore, four points in the paint from center Demeara Hinds, and eight more points from Augustinaite.

Six Tigers combined to put up 18 more points and extend an already secure lead in the second quarter, outrebounding the Eagles 20 to 11 and generating three steals en route to a 41-20 margin at halftime.

Augustinaite, a spark plug in the first half, finished 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and added two free throws and layup for a team-high 16 points. Mia Moore, one of three returners this season, finished with a season-high and team high 16 points, knocking down six of her ten attempts, including three triples.

Mirroring the structure of the first half, the Tigers and Eagles each traded shots to start the third quarter, before Clemson opened up a 20-5 in the next seven minutes. In this span, six players scored, and the Tigers’ defense forced five turnovers to Clemson’s one.

Tigers point guard Rachael Rose, the former two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year, also got going in the third quarter, knocking down two shots from beyond the arc to help dash any notions of an Eagles comeback. The Scranton, Pa., native was also responsible for three of the Tigers 16 assists and finished with 11 points.

Freshman guard Amaia Jackson knocked down her first collegiate points with a triple on the wing in the fourth quarter, and with 12 other points, the Tigers coasted to the final 78-38 score, the largest margin of victory through four games this season.

Clemson finished with 15 assists to American’s six, and finished with a 40 to 19 rebounding advantage. The Tigers turned over the Eagles 11 times and held them scoreless for over five minutes in the fourth quarter.

Up Next

The Tigers will open their ACC schedule Sunday with a matchup over No. 22 Louisville, the team that knocked Clemson out of the ACC tournament and ended its season last year. The Tigers and Cardinals will tip off at 3 p.m. on ESPN in an early-season rematch and true test for Poppie’s squad.