Nov. 8, 2007

Game Notes

Historical Perspective
South Carolina opens its 34th season of women’s basketball tonight. The program has amassed a 564-413 record (.577) in that time, playing in eight NCAA Tournaments, three WNITs and three AIAW Tournaments. South Carolina has claimed five conference regular-season titles, all in the Metro Conference, and, under head coach Susan Walvius, finished as high as second in the SEC (2001-02).

Gamecocks in Season Openers
South Carolina has compiled a 23-10 record in season openers and has won seven of its last 10. Coming into tonight’s game, the Gamecocks have opened on their home floor 11 times with a 9-2 mark in those contests. The last team to beat South Carolina in a season opener played in Columbia was South Carolina State, which handed the Gamecocks a 70-64 setback to kick off the 1975-76 season.

Series Notes
South Carolina and Saint Francis have never played. In fact, the Gamecocks have only played one other school in the Northeast Conference, topping Fairleigh Dickinson 109-86 on Dec. 31, 1994.

Scouting the Red Flash
Saint Francis enters its 40th season of women’s basketball with three returning starters among its 10 returning letterwinners. The two departing starters were last year’s leading scorer and top rebounder, however. First-year head coach Susan Robinson-Fruchtl will rely on junior Shawna Scott, who was second on the team in scoring with 9.4 points per game and in 3-point shooting at 29.7 percent accuracy from behind the arc last year. The Red Flash finished 7-22 last season with four of those wins coming in conference play.

In Exhibition
Fans got their first look at this season’s squad at Tuesday night’s exhibition, which the Gamecocks won 80-68 over the All-Stars. Senior Lakesha Tolliver led all scorers with 18 points, while junior Demetress Adams poured in 14 points with 13 rebounds. South Carolina shot 42.9 percent from the field and out-rebounded the All-Stars 48-40.

Newcomers Samone Kennedy and Jordan Jones were key contributors to the victory as well. Kennedy pushed the tempo on both ends of the floor, handing out five assists against just two turnovers and swiping five steals. Jones hit a pair of 3-pointers and snagged four rebounds.

Ticket Information
Adults are admitted for $7. Youths under the age of 18 are admitted for $3. Season tickets are $40. For more information or to order tickets, contact the South Carolina Ticket Office toll free at 800-4SC-FANS or locally at 803-777-4274. Tickets can also be ordered via the athletics web siteGamecocksOnline.com.

Game Promotions
Fans who wear their team t-shirt or jersey will receive $3 admission.

Suddenly Susan
Head coach Susan Walvius enters her 11th season as the Gamecocks’ mentor with a 149-144 record. She has led South Carolina to two NCAA Tournaments and two WNITs, including an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2001-02. Her players have also excelled in the classroom. In 2006-07, 10 Gamecocks appeared on the SEC Winter Sports Academic Honor Roll. In the last four years, South Carolina has placed more student-athletes on that list than any other school.

A South Carolina Win Would …

• Improve the Gamecocks’ record to 25-10 all-time in season openers
• Improve the Gamecocks’ record to 2-0 in games played against team in the Northeast Conference
• Improve Susan Walvius’ record in season openers to 9-3
• Improve Susan Walvius’ record to 101-47 in regular-season games played against non-conference opponents
• Improve Susan Walvius’ record to 68-11 in regular-season non-conference home games

  Season Openers Under Walvius
  2006 East Tennessee State W, 78-53
  2005 High Point W, 71-35
  2004 at Washington L, 53-65
  2003 at Clemson L, 99-103
  2002 Clemson W, 72-58
  2001 Furman W, 94-74
  2000 at Rice L, 56-61
  1999 Charlotte W, 67-61
  1998 at Florida A&M W, 78-51
  1997 at Appalachian State W, 77-61

Carolina in a Nutshell
Coming off back-to-back postseason appearances, South Carolina craves an upper tier finish in the SEC and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. To achieve that, the Gamecocks will rely on five veterans to meet their potential while helping a stockpile of newcomers acclimate to the college game.

In Ilona Burgrova, Lakesha Tolliver and Demetress Adams, the Gamecocks have the luxury of experienced players that can dominate the post. The inside cannot thrive unless the perimeter provides support, though, so the Gamecocks will build a balanced attack in which the interior will be the focus but the perimeter will make defenses pay for overcommitting.

The Gamecocks look to live up to their reputation as one of the country’s best defensive and rebounding teams, although the usually aggressive approach may be altered to accommodate the newcomers. A match-up zone early in the season will facilitate rebounding and defending dribble penetration until the younger players show they can execute the more up-tempo defensive style.