Sept. 5, 2007

COLUMBIA – South Carolina women’s basketball coach Susan Walvius announced today that freshman guard Ashlie Billingslea (Stone Mountain, Ga. / Stephenson) suffered a torn ACL in her left knee and will miss the start of the 2007-08 season. Billingslea, who suffered the injury in a pick-up game prior to the start of classes, will undergo surgery next week and could be back on the court this season.

“We’re disappointed both for Ashlie and for our team, but we are optimistic that she will still be able to contribute for us this season,” Walvius said. “We will support and encourage her to work hard through this process to get back on the court as quickly as possible.”

A first-team All-State selection at Stephenson HS last season, Billingslea was projected to figure prominently for the Gamecocks in the point guard spot. She led the Lady Jaguars to a 31-3 record, a trip to the Class 5A state semifinals and a No. 5 national ranking from Sports Illustrated. Billingslea was a Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-American and a McDonald’s All-America nominee as well.