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Home > SECWB News & More! > SEC Teams > South Carolina > Gamecocks Stun Wildcats, 65-57
Gamecocks Stun Wildcats, 65-57
by Marilyn McManus, SECWB.com
Posted: March 2nd, 2008 @ 11:23pm
Source: View Box Score
In the final regular-season game in Lexington, Kentucky, the South Carolina Gamecocks got off to a great start, grabbing a 9-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. This is one of few times, this season, that they have managed to grab the momentum at the start of a game and they showed that they can play quite effectively, with a lead. At the same time, they managed to get Kentucky’s Sarah Elliott into foul trouble, picking up her second personal foul in the same three minute span of time. Carly Ormerod eventually got the Wildcats on the scoreboard, hitting 2 of 3 free throws at 15:47 to play. In fact, Kentucky stayed in the contest by shooting free throws, especially in the first half. They had only 3 field goals in the half, but also made 12 of 20 free throws.
It was a foul epidemic today and it spread like the flu: Gamecock sub Jewel May fouled out of the game, in the first half, and Ilona Burgrova and Ashlie Billingslea both had 3 fouls at the break. The Gamecocks went into the locker room with a 33-19 lead.
In the second half, Kentucky came out of the locker room on fire. They started making field goals and cut the lead to 7 points with 15:21 left to play. The teams traded baskets for a few minutes and the Gamecocks still had a 9-point lead at the 13:41 mark. They had also committed only 11 turnovers, at that point in the game–both very positive signs for the Gamecocks.(USC finished the game with 17 turnovers.) Kentucky put on another run at the Gamecocks and got right back into the game, though. A layup by Samantha Mahoney cut the lead to 2 points and the 3:17 mark, but the Gamecocks responded with 3 free throws and a couple of Jordan Jones baskets to push the lead back up to 8 points with 1:21 to play, then held on to win.
The game was characterized by aggressive defense on the part of the Gamecocks, part of the reason for the high foul totals: 27 fouls were charged to the USC team and 21 to the Wildcats. A total of 61 free throws were attempted, 25 by the Gamecocks and 36 by the Wildcats. Part of the difference, today, was that the Gamecocks hit 76% of their free throws to 63% for the Wildcats, who failed to score a possible 13 more points at the line. The Gamecocks also held the Wildcats to 27% shooting from the floor, while shooting 39% from the floor, themselves.
Senior forward Lakesha Tolliver was a one-woman wrecking crew for the Gamecocks today, with 21 points and a career-best 12 rebounds to lead the team. She also had 3 blocked shots, for good measure. It was the second double-double of her career and was key to the Gamecock win. Freshman Jordan Jones tossed in 13 points, 7 of them on a late run to keep the Gamecocks in position to win the game, and Brionna Dickerson had a strong showing with 12 points and 9 rebounds.
Kentucky was led by Carly Ormerod with 11 points and Mahoney with 12.
The Wildcats may have left their chance for post-season play on the floor today; they are now 14-14 and will now need to win 2 games in the Southeastern Conference tournament to finish with a record over .500.
The Gamecocks are now 15-14 and with this win have pushed their record over the .500 mark, a requirement for playing in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. With the NCAA beyond their grasp, barring running the table (and winning the whole enchilada) at the SEC tournament this week, only the WNIT remains as Carolina’s post-season play opportunity.
The Gamecocks are in sole possession of 10th place in the conference and will play # 7 seed Florida in the SEC tournament on Thursday. The tournament is in Nashville, TN this year and the Gamecocks will play at 3:30 pm EST (2:30 CT, Nashville time) on Thursday. All of the tournament games are televised on FSN South, except for the championship game, which will be televised on ESPN2.
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