Nov. 18, 2008

South Carolina vs. Clemson | 7 p.m.

| Game Notes

Last Time Out
A pair of five-minute scoring droughts led to a 56-42 loss for South Carolina in the season opener at Penn State Sunday afternoon. The Gamecocks struggled shooting the ball throughout the game, but it was second-half turnovers that helped the Lady Lions first recover then extend their 10-point halftime lead. Senior Demetress Adams recorded a double-double in the outing with 11 points and 12 rebounds, eight of which came in the first half.

Series Notes
Clemson leads the series 31-22, but the Gamecocks have won the last three meetings handily. Carolina won last year’s matchup 64-43 on Dec. 22 at Clemson. The Tigers’ last win in the series was an 87-79 overtime decision on Dec. 3, 2004 in Columbia. The Gamecocks hold a 15-11 advantage over the Tigers in games played in Columbia. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has never coached against Clemson.

Injury Report
Freshman Courtney Newton continues to rehab a right knee injury suffered in the preseason and will not play against Clemson. Freshman Charenee Stephens will not suit up for the Gamecocks for an unspecified period of time for personal reasons.

A South Carolina Win Would …
• Be head coach Dawn Staley’s first win as the Gamecocks’ head coach.
• Be the Gamecocks’ fourth-straight victory over their archrival.
• Be the program’s eighth-consecutive win in a home opener. The Gamecocks’ last loss in a home opener was a 58-69 defeat at the hands of Indiana on Nov. 22, 2000.

New Dawn
Head coach Dawn Staley is in her first season with the Gamecocks following an eight-year run at Temple. She helped her hometown Owls to six NCAA Tournament appearances, four Atlantic 10 Tournament titles and the program’s first national ranking. She compiled a 172-80 record (.683) and amassed six seasons of 20 or more wins.

Scouting the Tigers
Clemson split a pair of games over the weekend, dropping their season opener at cross-town rival Furman 82-68 before cruising past Presbyterian 66-35. The Tigers are getting their scoring punch from junior guard/forward Lele Hardy, who is averaging 16.0 points on 40.0 percent (2-of-5) 3-point shooting, and sophomore guard Kirstyn Wright, who is netting 10.0 points per game. Sophomore forward Jasmine Tate has snagged 7.5 rebounds per game to lead the squad on the glass early in the season. As a team, Clemson is scoring 67.0 points per game on 36.2 percent shooting, including 19.4 percent from 3-point range, and has out-rebounded its first two opponents by 5.0 boards per game. Head coach Cristy McKinney is in her fourth season at Clemson, leading the Tigers to a 33-59 record. She has a 16-year career record of 249-198.

Ticket Information
Season tickets are available at two prices. Fans who purchase four season tickets qualify for the Family 4-Pack pricing at $100. Fans who purchase fewer than four pay the full price of $50 per season ticket. Single-game tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for youth (18 and under). 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. Fans can also order tickets via the athletics web site, GamecocksOnline.com.

Centennial Celebration
Tonight’s game against Clemson is the 100th women’s basketball official game played in Colonial Life Arena. Since christening the arena with a 72-58 win over Clemson on Nov. 22, 2002, the Gamecocks have compiled a 66-33 record (excluding exhibition games) on their homecourt. South Carolina won a high of 15 games in Colonial Life Arena in the 2006-07 season, and lost a record-low two games in 16 outings at the facility in 2002-03.

The Gold Standard
While head coach Dawn Staley has become synonymous with Olympic gold, the entire South Carolina coaching staff boasts a wealth of experience and achievement. Including assistant coaches Lisa Boyer, Carla McGhee and Nikki McCray, the Gamecock women’s basketball staff has combined for 39 years of coaching experience, 29 years of playing professionally in the United States, seven Olympic gold medals and two NCAA National Championships.

Home Sweet Home
South Carolina has a 24-8 record in home openers since 1976-77. (Records for the first two seasons of varsity women’s basketball at the University did not indicate the site of the game.) The Gamecocks have won their last seven home debuts, including a 72-58 win over Clemson on Nov. 22, 2002.

Preseason Plaudits
South Carolina senior Demetress Adams earned a spot the Preseason All-SEC Second Team earlier this month. Adams was a second-team all-conference selection by both the coaches and the media in 2007-08 after averaging 10.9 points and 8.9 rebounds.

It’s a Block Party!
After recording 55 blocked shots in 2007-08, the third-most in school history, senior Demetress Adams looks to continue her charge up the Gamecocks’ career blocked shots list. She needs just 14 to meet former teammate Ilona Burgrova’s 133 in third place.
Career Blocked Shots
1. 177 Lakesha Tolliver (2004-08)
2. 148 Michelle Murray (1989-93)
3. 133 Ilona Burgrova (2004-08)
4. 119 Demetress Adams (2005-present)

Definitive Demetress
Senior Demetress Adams has recorded 13 career double-doubles, including eight last season, and the Gamecocks are 11-2 in those games. Carolina suffered its first loss in a game where Adams reached double figures in points and rebounds at No. 8 LSU on Jan. 31, 2008.

New Foes
After playing six first-time opponents last season, the Gamecocks will face just two unfamiliar foes in 2008-09 – Stanford and USC Upstate. South Carolina was 4-2 against its first-time opponents last season and is 50-17 in its first meeting with a non-SEC opponent since joining the league in 1991-92.

The Adams Family
Senior Demetress Adams (Bishopville, S.C./Lee Central) recorded her first double-double of the season in the opener at Penn State, logging 11 points and 12 rebounds, including eight in the first half … scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the exhibition game against Peach State Elite with all but four points and three rebounds coming in the second half … was named to the Preseason All-SEC second team by the league’s coaches.

What Do You Serve With Brie?
Senior Brionna Dickerson (Columbia, S.C./Heathwood Hall) added 10 points in the season opener at Penn State … led the team with 16 points in the exhibition against Peach State Elite, playing a team-high 38 minutes.

My Friends Call Me Cocoa
Sophomore Lauren Falohun (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) drew her first career start in the season opener at Penn State, handing out a team-high three assists in 25 minutes … played in 14 games last season, adding 0.1 points and 0.9 rebounds per game.

The Kennedy Legacy
Sophomore Samone Kennedy (Birmingham, Ala./Ramsay) saw limited time in the season opener at Penn State … handed out a game-high four assists in just 17 minutes in the exhibition against Peach State Elite.

Jewel of the Nile
Sophomore Jewel May (Conyers, Ga./Heritage) earned her first career start in the season opener at Penn State, adding six points and five rebounds in 20 minutes on the court … scored seven points and snagged six rebounds in just 10 minutes of action in the exhibition against Peach State Elite.

A Newton of Force
Redshirt freshman Courtney Newton (Flowery Branch, Ga./Flowery Branch) continues to sit out with a right knee injury after taking a redshirt in 2007-08 following season-ending surgery on her left knee five games into the season … should provide outside shooting punch as she hit 33.3 percent from outside the arc in five games last season, including a 3-for-7 outing against Buffalo.

Set the Pace
Senior C.J. Pace (Snellville, Ga./Chipola College) picked up the start in the season opener at Penn State and tied for team-high honors with 11 points, including a career-high three 3-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds … played 28 minutes in the exhibition against Peach State Elite, grabbing four rebounds.

CSI: Columbia
Freshman Charenee Stephens (Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb) will not play in any games for an undetermined period of time for personal reasons … was tabbed as the fifth-best forward in the 2008 class by Scout.com and the 33rd-best player in the class by HoopGurlz.com.

Jersey Girl
Freshman LaKeisha Sutton (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) earned the start in the season opener at Penn State … drew a starting spot in the exhibition game against Peach State Elite and poured in 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, which included a number of driving layups.

Miranda Rights
Freshman Miranda Tate (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) saw six minutes off the bench at Penn State in her collegiate debut … scored 10 points and handed out two assists in the exhibition game against Peach State, playing 28 minutes of the bench.

Wheeler Dealer
Freshman Sada Wheeler (Gainesville, Ga./East Hall) tied for second on the team with six rebounds in the season opener at Penn State … netted 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting and grabbed five rebounds in just 11 minutes of the exhibition against Peach State Elite.

T Time
Freshman Tonia Williams (Warner Robins, Ga./Houston County) made her collegiate debut in the season opener at Penn State, adding an offensive rebound to the effort.