However, there were some positives in this game and the biggest of them all was that the Gamecocks team stood toe-to-toe with the Lady Vols in the second half of the game. The second half saw the 2 teams battle to a 34-34 tie. I don’t know what transpired in the locker room during halftime, but it worked. Oh, sure, the Lady Vols rested their starters part of the game–although most of them played 30 minutes or close to it-- but it’s still a pretty big accomplishment. No other Gamecock team has matched Tennessee in recent memory, even for a 20-minute period. Remember that they are the #2 team in the country, the defending national champions. The second half play of the Gamecocks was still not perfect, but it was pretty good. The team did not quit, they continued to work hard right up until the final buzzer. The shooting was better in the second half, there were fewer turnovers, more steals and almost equal the number of first-half rebounds.( Oh, yeah, the Gamecocks out-rebounded the Lady Vols for the game, 41-33.) Those are only small victories and we are still waiting for the Big Victory against Tennessee, but let’s not forget the small victories. The Gamecocks went into the game with a very short bench and a very young team with limited Southeastern Conference experience. It showed, with some of the ill-advised passes into the paint–passing, in my opinion, is always where it shows the most during SEC play. The best defenses are always looking for the floating passes and the wobbly ones and the hesitant passes–and they turn them into layups on the other end of the court.
Shannon Bobbitt led the Lady Vols with20 points, 4 assists and 3 steals and Candace Parker contributed 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Angie Bjorklund had 10 points and 5 rebounds and Nicky Anosike had 12 points, 3 assists, 3 blocked shots and 3 steals.
The Gamecocks were led by Ilona Burgrova with a double-double: 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Demetress Adams had 10 points, 5 steals and 7 rebounds. Perimeter scoring was harder to come by, as the Lady Vols’ defensive pressure made it difficult for the Carolina shooters to get their feet set for a shot. The Gamecocks continue to play short-handed; the guard position has been hit hard with the Chicken Curse. Courtney Newton, originally the starting point guard, underwent season-ending ACL surgery last week. Ashlie Billingslea, also a point guard, continues to rehab the ACL she had repaired right at the start of practice, this season. She may be available before the end of the season. Brionna Dickerson continues to play through pain in her foot and Jordan Jones is also playing in pain, with a severe bone bruise on one knee.
Senior forward Lakesha Tolliver is also out, with an undisclosed medical condition. She was hospitalized for a short time and has returned to sit on the bench with the team, but is not cleared to play. From the careful phrasing of official comments about her anticipated return to the team, it seems quite possible that she may not return this season, leaving a very thin front line even thinner. Tolliver is already the USC career leader in blocked shots and has been the primary reliever for both Burgrova and Adams, this season. In addition to her shot blocking and rebounding, Tolliver added just a bit of intimidation to the lineup–as well as emotion, energy and streaks of brilliant play. She will be missed, whatever her return date. The Gamecocks now have only 10 relatively healthy players, 6 of whom are seeing SEC action for the first time in their careers. However, if they can play even with the #2 team in the country, even if only for 20 minutes, they can be competitive in league play. There are 12 more conference games to go and every one is important.
Currently 0-2 in the SEC, the Gamecocks now have a week to prepare for their next SEC matchup, against Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi on January 20th.
