Tigers Host the Stanford Cardinal for the First Time

Tessa Miller (22) leads the Tigers in rebounds with 97 this season. She also averages right under 10 points per game and has a 55.3 FG percentage. (Photo By: Charles Mays)

Today, the Clemson Tigers Women’s Basketball team is set to host the Stanford Cardinal at Littlejohn Coliseum, as it is the first-ever matchup between these two programs in women's basketball. The Clemson Tigers are riding high on the momentum of a significant victory over the 20th-ranked California Golden Bears, where they were victorious with a score of 69-58. This win not only boosts their confidence but also showcases their potential to compete at a high level. In contrast, the Stanford Cardinal are entering this game following a narrow defeat to SMU, where they lost with a close score of 67-63. The Cardinal are led by sophomore forward Nunu Agara, who has been a standout player this season, averaging an impressive 17.5 points per game. Alongside her, senior Elena Bosgana contributes significantly to the team's scoring, averaging 13.3 points per game. Stanford is proficient in shooting three-pointers, a style of play that aligns closely with Clemson's own strategy. The Cardinal averages just under nine successful three-point shots per game, and a nice shooting percentage of 39.86 percent from beyond the arc, third in the nation. Notably, Stanford has three players who have attempted at least 49 three-pointers this season, and each of them shoots at 40 percent or better: Elena Bosgana, Brooke Demetre, and Jzaniya Harriel. On the defensive end, one of the notable strengths of the Clemson Tigers this season has been their ability to limit opponents' three-point shooting. They have managed to restrict their opponents to a 29.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc, allowing only about five made three-pointers per game. This defensive strength could play a crucial role in today's game, especially against a team like Stanford that heavily relies on the three-point shot. Nunu Agara also stands out as a dominant presence in the paint for the Cardinal, leading her team in rebounding with a total of 100 rebounds this season, averaging 7.7 boards per game. It will be fun to witness a potential matchup between Agara and Clemson's Tessa Miller, who leads the Tigers in rebounding with 97 total rebounds and averages 6.9 rebounds per game. Miller has also shown efficiency in her scoring, with an impressive 55.3 percent field goal percentage and averaging just under 10 points per game. As for Clemson, they are eager to build on the momentum gained from their recent victory. The win over California has certainly turned heads and sparked interest in the progress of the program under the guidance of Coach Shawn Poppie. The team's performance has been characterized by standout players such as Loyal McQueen, who is averaging 13.7 points per game with a solid shooting percentage of 43.4 percent from the field. Close behind her is Mia Moore, contributing 11.6 points per game and an impressive shooting percentage of 44 percent from three-point range. Both McQueen and Moore possess the quickness and agility to penetrate defenses effectively, and their ability to score at the rim while also having patience in their approach. Stanford typically employs a zone defense that, while not overly aggressive, can be exploited by teams that are good at finding gaps and taking advantage of open shots. In reviewing some of Stanford's previous games, it has been observed that certain teams were able to score against this zone, indicating a potential area of opportunity for Clemson. The Tigers have displayed a hot hand from beyond the arc this season, shooting just over 38 percent from three-point range and currently ranking 14th in the nation for three-point shooting percentage. Given their recent performance at NC State, where Clemson made a program record 15 three-pointers, it is likely that Clemson will find success from long range against Stanford. Earlier in the season, Stanford allowed 18 made three-pointers to the Cal Golden Bears, a big difference to Clemson's defensive performance against the same team, where they limited California to just four three-pointers. Additionally, Hannah Kohn, who is shooting an impressive 40.9 percent from beyond the arc, will be a player to watch closely as she can make Stanford pay for any defensive lapses. Overall, this should be an exciting and competitive matchup. Although, I have a strong feeling that the Tigers will take this meeting for the win.