NICEVILLE, FLA. — Clemson made a season-high 13 three-point baskets en route to a 90-52 victory past UAB in the opening round of the inaugural Emerald Coast Classic women’s tournament Monday.
Clemson will advance to the championship of the Bay Bracket facing No. 23 ranked Alabama (7-0) at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Graduate guard Loyal McQueen paced a balanced Clemson scoring attack with 17 points as four players scored in double figures. Forward Tessa Miller had 15 points, while Anya Poole came off the bench scoring 10 points. Guard Mia Moore added 10 points along with a game-high eight rebounds.
McQueen, who dished out a game-high seven assists, tallied 15 points in the first half as Clemson enjoyed a 48-25 halftime lead.
The Tigers shot 57.9 percent from the floor in the second quarter, while outscoring the Blazers, 26-9.
The Tigers dominated the glass, outrebounding UAB, 51-23. Clemson had 22 offensive rebounds which led to a 22-4 advantage in second-chance points.
“I thought we did a lot of things that we grew from and pushed us forward. I thought we played together and shared the basketball, and had a bunch of different people score, ” said first-year Clemson Coach Shawn Poppie, whose team improved to 4-1. “
I’m really proud of the group but we have very little time to celebrate. We have a heck of an opportunity in front of us tomorrow before Thanksgiving.”
The Emerald Coast Classic tournament has special meaning for Poppie.
“It’s awesome,” said Poppie. “I’ve come down here I don’t know how many times, whether it be family vacations or even recruiting here throughout the years. It’s come full circle for me personally. I just got the job in April and we had a family vacation here in Destin already scheduled. So, for me, I told them I still wanted to go on the family vacation during the transition. It wasn’t that long ago, we were just enjoying being the head basketball coach at Clemson here in Destin, walking the beaches of Destin proud in our Clemson orange. That came full circle.
“We had a bunch of fans in the stands here and it’s also neat for our kids to be able to come down here. We are staying at a wonderful hotel at the Hilton in Sandestin, so they get that beach feel, all the while getting to play on a college court. I think it’s a very well-run tournament and something for us that we really appreciate participating in.”
Forward Jade Weathersby led UAB with 10 points.The Blazers, who slipped to 3-2, will play Alabama State Tuesday.
