Feb. 7, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – South Carolina suffered a 78-48 loss to Vanderbilt tonight at Memorial Gymnasium. The Gamecocks (12-11, 1-7 SEC) could not find the basket on the offensive end and struggle to contain the active Commodores (17-6, 6-2 SEC) on the defensive side. Senior Ilona Burgrova led the team with 12 points as she shot 4-of-8 from the field, but South Carolina hit just 30.6 percent of its shots and was out-rebounded 41-31.
Both teams were slow out of the gate with neither team scoring a bucket until Christina Wirth drained a 3-pointer at the 16:36 mark. The Gamecocks were even slower to get on the board, sinking their first bucket at 14:46 when Brionna Dickerson found the bottom of the net from the left wing for three points. While Wirth opened the floodgates for Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks continued to struggle in the half court, and the deficit grew to 14-3 before Jordan Jones hit a 3-pointer at the 12:05 mark. The Commodores were relentless, however, driving to the basket and hitting 10-of-12 from the free-throw line as well to build a 37-14 margin at the break.
After shooting just 23.1 percent in the first half, the Gamecocks got their offense going early in the second half but could only narrow the deficit to 18 at the 15:30 mark. Meredith Marsh’s 3-pointer immediately pushed it back to a 21-point game on the next trip down the floor. Each time South Carolina looked to make a run, the Commodores answered by driving or dishing the ball inside. The Commodores’ lead grew to as many as 33 with 8:07 left, and the Gamecocks could get no closer than the 30-point margin of the final score.
Samone Kennedy joined Burgrova in double figures as she scored 10 points, mostly driving to the basket and by hitting 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Demetress Adams finished the night with 10 rebounds, giving her double-digit boards for the third straight game.
Vanderbilt hit 50 percent from the field, including 8-of-14 from 3-point range, and saw five players reach double figures. Marsh’s 12 points led the way, while Jennifer Risper, Lauren Lueders and Jessica Mooney each contributed 11. Wirth rounded out the group with 10.
South Carolina returns home to play Mississippi on Sun., Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. at the Colonial Center.
