Feb. 9, 2008

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Last Time Out
South Carolina suffered a 78-48 loss to Vanderbilt Thursday night at Memorial Gymnasium. The Gamecocks could not find the basket on the offensive end and struggled to contain the active Commodores on the defensive end. 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.

Series Notes
Mississippi leads the series 15-9 after a 74-61 victory in Oxford earlier this season. The Lady Rebels have, in face, won five of the last six meetings. The Gamecocks’ lone win during that stretch was a 77-66 victory in the Colonial Center on Feb. 19, 2006. South Carolina holds a 6-4 edge over Ole Miss in games played in Columbia, incluidng a 4-2 mark during head coach Susan Walvius’ tenure.

Suddenly Susan
Head coach Susan Walvius is in her 11th season as the Gamecocks’ mentor with a 161-155 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. Walvius has an 18-year career mark of 259-256.

A South Carolina Win Would …

• Be the Gamecocks’ second in the last seven meetings with the Lady Rebels.
• Give the Gamecocks an 11-4 record this season at the Colonial Center.
• Improve Susan Walvius’ SEC regular-season record to 49-100.

Think Pink!
South Carolina is joining 900 teams from a variety of sports in the WBCA’s 2008 Think Pink initiative, which began on Feb. 8. A global, unified effort to help raise breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond, schools are participating in various ways. For the Gamecocks, the initiative began on Jan. 13 when the first 200 Carolina fans at the Tennessee game received a Think Pink basketball piggy bank. The first 100 fans at each subsequent game also received a bank in which to collect spare change to donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation on Sun., Feb. 10. The first 500 fans that bring their banks to the Colonial Center on Feb. 10 will receive a Think Pink game day t-shirt. Fans who missed the opportunity to pick up a bank will have the option to purchase the t-shirt for a $5 donation to the Komen Foundation.

Triple Threat
After a 2006-07 season that ended with no Gamecocks averaging double-figure points, three players are currently at the mark this season. Freshman Jordan Jones leads the way with 12.2 ppg, while junior forward Demetress Adams is second at 11.4 ppg. Junior guard Brionna Dickerson rounds out the group at 10.4 ppg. Senior Ilona Burgrova is just outside the mark with 9.8 ppg.

Glass Ceiling?
Junior Demetress Adams grabbed a school record 26 rebounds against Arkansas on Feb. 3, breaking Denise Nanney’s 33-year-old record of 24. The first Gamecock since 1993 to bring down 20 or more rebounds in a game, Adams tied Mississippi State’s Sophie Ratliff’s 26 against Shorter in 1988 as the most by an SEC player since the league began officially sponsoring women’s basketball in 1982-83. Of her 26 boards, a school-record 17 came on the defensive end. Among her record-breaking 26 rebounds was the 500th of her career.

A Leader in the Board Room
Junior Demetress Adams catapulted into second place in the SEC with 9.2 rebounds per game after her record-setting performance against Arkansas. She has spent the entire season among the league’s top 10 and, through games of Feb. 3, ranked 42nd in the nation in the category. Adams has posted double-digit rebounds in 10 games this season, including the last three outings.

Stop! Thief!
Junior Demetress Adams is fourth in the SEC and 49th in the nation with 2.52 steals per game. Hovering around the league’s elite in the category, she has picked an opponent’s pocket four or more times in six games this season, including a career-high six steals at Clemson on Dec. 22. Nationally, Adams trails Delaware’s Kyle DeHaven’s NCAA-best 4.7 swipes per game, while Ashley Houts of Georgia leads the SEC at 3.04. With 58 steals this season, Adams has already surpassed her previous career-best of 52, which she collected last season. She has a long way to go to get to Katrina Anderson’s school-record 126 in 1978-79.

It’s a Block Party!
Through games of Feb. 3, South Carolina was 14th in the nation with 5.41 blocked shots per game, a number that is second in the SEC to Tennessee’s 6.27 per game. Both teams trail North Carolina’s NCAA-best 7.4 blocks per game. Individually, junior Demetress Adams leads the team with 43 blocks this season, ranking her fourth in the SEC. In fact, that number ties her with Michelle Murray’s 1992-93 total for eighth place in school history.
Single-Season Blocked Shots
1. 60 by Lakesha Tolliver (2006-07)
2. 58 by Teresa Geter (2000-01)
3. 54 by Melanie Johnson (2004-05)
4. 53 by Michelle Murray (1990-91)
5. 49 by Michelle Murray (1991-92)
6. 48 by Petra Ujhelyi (2002-03)
7. 45 by Petra Ujhelyi (2001-02)
8. 43 by Demetress Adams (2007-08); by Michelle Murray (1992-93)

Prime Time Players
South Carolina has played four teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation. While the Gamecocks lost all four contests, senior Ilona Burgrova and junior Demetress Adams showed they can match up with the best. The duo accounted for 87 of the team’s 187 points (46.5 percent) against the top-10 foes with each including a double-double among her accomplishments. Burgrova, who scored 15 or more points in two contests, has scored 11.5 points per game on 58.6 percent shooting against the top-10 foes. Adams has averaged 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Definitive Demetress
Junior Demetress Adams has recorded 12 career double-doubles, including seven this season, and the Gamecocks are 11-1 in those games, taking their first loss at No. 8 LSU on Jan. 31. South Carolina is undefeated in Adams’ three career games with five or more blocked shots, including two this season. In her five career games with five or more assists, including four this season, the Gamecocks are 4-1, suffering its first loss under those conditions on Jan. 27 against Florida.

Long Distance Coverage
Freshman Jordan Jones is 19th in the nation and second in the SEC with 2.70 3-pointers per game. She has hit 62 from long range this season to already rank among the program’s all-time top 10 in the category.
Single-Season 3-Pointers Made
1. 115 by Karen Middleton (1990-91)
2. 84 by Christi Timmons (1991-92)
3. 82 by Shannon Johnson (1995-96)
4. 81 by Kelly Morrone (2003-04)
5. 79 by Christi Timmons (1993-94)
6. 76 by Karen Middleton (1989-90)
7. 75 by Karen Middleton (1987-88)
8. 64 by Shannon Johnson (1994-95)
9. 62 by Jordan Jones (2007-08); by Kelly Morrone (2002-03)

From Way Downtown – Bang!
Freshman Jordan Jones is fourth in the SEC with 37.6 percent accuracy from behind the arc. Robert Morris’ Sade Logan leads the nation with 4.0 3-point field goals per game, while Vanderbilt’s Christina Wirth leads the SEC shooting 42.6 percent from 3-point range. Karen Middleton holds the South Carolina record for 3-point field goal percentage by a freshman after hitting 43.4 percent (75-of-163) in 1987-88. Middleton holds the four best 3-point percentages in school history, including the record 46.9 percent (76-of-162), which she set as a junior in 1989-90.

Just Czeching
Since finding her offensive rhythm with a career-high-tying 17 points against Charleston Southern, senior Ilona Burgrova reached double-figure points in the next five outings. After a two-game hiatus from double figures, during which she scored nine points against UNC Asheville and seven against Savannah State, the center from the Czech Republic bounced back in conference play with a team-high 13 points at Alabama. Burgrova recorded her first double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against No. 2 Tennessee. In all, she has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 17 games, including three games against teams ranked in the top 10.

Balancing Act
After a 2006-07 campaign that saw the Gamecock frontcourt carrying the load, South Carolina’s offense this season has been more of a balance between inside and outside play. The inside quartet of Demetress Adams (262 pts), Ilona Burgrova (226 pts), Jewel May (74 pts) and Lakesha Tolliver (152 pts) has provided 31.0 of the teams 6665.2 points per game (47.6%). Last season, the frontcourt accounted for 39.5 of the team’s 68.6 ppg (57.8%).

Bounce Back
Annually playing a difficult non-conference schedule in addition to its SEC slate, South Carolina has suffered a handful of decisive setbacks. The Gamecocks tend to recover quickly, however, and have done so this season. In the last four seasons, the Gamecocks are 8-4 in games after a loss of 20 or more points, and one of those losses was last season’s three-point defeat against No. 7 LSU following a 36-point loss at No. 3 Tennessee. The total of eight wins includes four games this season – a 37-67 loss at No. 9 LSU came just before a 59-50 win over Arkansas, a 63-95 setback at No. 9 Oklahoma preceded an 80-52 win over UNC Asheville, a 97-39 loss at No. 2 UConn was followed by an 88-41 victory over Alabama A&M two days later, and a 91-58 loss to Illinois yielded an 82-66 win over Florida International.

Losing Pace
Junior transfer C.J. Pace has been declared academically ineligible for the spring semester. Prior to the start of classes this term, Pace played in 16 games, including two starts, and added 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. She enjoyed a breakout game on Jan. 3 against UNC Asheville in which she scored a season-best 15 points.

Hold `Em
The Gamecocks tied a school record when they held Charleston Southern to just 26 points on Dec. 4. The Lady Bucs’ limited offense matched that of Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 21, 2005. South Carolina allowed Charleston Southern to shoot just 16.7 percent from the field, the second-lowest efficiency by an opponent in Gamecock history, trailing Bethune-Cookman’s 14 percent accuracy.

Like a Broken Record
One game after etching her name in as the school record holder for blocked shots in a game with seven against UNC Wilmington on Dec. 1, senior Lakesha Tolliver completed her trifecta of blocked shot records by becoming the South Carolina career record holder with five swats against Charleston Southern on Dec. 4. Just nine games into her senior season, Tolliver’s 169 career blocks has eclipsed the Michelle Murray’s previous record of 148. Tolliver set the school record for single-season blocked shots in 2006-07 with 60. She has 39 so far this season.
Career Blocked Shots
1. 169 by Lakesha Tolliver (2004-present)
2. 148 by Michelle Murray (1989-93)
3. 116 by Petra Ujhelyi (2000-03)
4. 114 by Iva Sliskovic (2003-07)
5. 106 by Demetress Adams (2005-present)

The Adams Family
Junior Demetress Adams (Bishopville, S.C./Lee Central) leads the Gamecocks and ranks second in the SEC with 9.2rebounds per game … is second on the team at 11.4 ppg … has been the team’s leading scorer five times and the leading rebounder in 16 games … has reached double figures in points in 18 games and recorded eight double-doubles … picked up double-digit rebounds for the third-straight game with 10 boards at Vanderbilt while also handing out a team-high three assists … broke a 33-year-old school record with 26 rebounds, including a school-record 17 on the defensive end against Arkansas, which also tied her for the most by an SEC player since the league began sponsoring women’s basketball in 1982-83 … went on to record a double-double against the Lady Razorbacks, adding a team-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting … was the lone Gamecock to shine at No. 8 LSU with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds … tied for team-high honors with six rebounds and led the club with five assists against Florida … narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds against Kentucky … was 4-of-5 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line for 13 points at Mississippi, while tying for team-high rebound honors with seven … netted 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting to go with seven rebounds and five steals … was limited by foul trouble to just 22 minutes at Alabama but reached double figures with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and five rebounds.

Know Your ABCs
Freshman Ashlie Billingslea (Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson) has played in the last six games after missing the season’s first 17 games due to surgery on her left knee in mid-September … snagged a career-high four rebounds to go with a pair of assists in just 11 minutes against Arkansas … handed out four assists and swiped three steals against Kentucky … made her season debut at Mississippi.

That’s Czech Mate
Senior Ilona Burgrova (Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic) is second on the team in rebounding with 6.6 boards per game and is adding 9.8 points per contest … has scored double-digit points in 12 of the last 17 games … has led the team in rebounding seven times this season and has recorded six games of double-digit boards … netted a team-high 11 points at Vanderbilt on 4-of-8 shooting … added nine points and seven rebounds to the win over Arkansas … tied for team-high point and rebound honors with 12 points and six rebounds against Florida … netted 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds against Kentucky, despite being limited by foul trouble … tied for team-high honors with seven rebounds while shooting 4-of-5 from the field at Mississippi … snagged a career-high 13 rebounds and netted a team-high 16 points against No. 2 Tennessee for her first double-double of the season … scored a team-high 13 points and blocked four shots at Alabama.

What Do You Serve With Brie?
Junior Brionna Dickerson (Columbia, S.C./Heathwood Hall) is third on the team with 10.4 ppg … netted 15 points and grabbed six rebounds against Arkansas … added six points, including the 400th of her career, at No. 8 LSU … matched Ilona Burgrova’s 12 points and six rebounds against Florida to tie for team-high honors in both categories … scored nine points and handed out three assists against Kentucky … added eight points and four rebounds at Mississippi.

My Friends Call Me Coco
Redshirt freshman Lauren Falohun (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) has come off the bench in 12 games … snagged an offensive rebound and handed out an assist in six minutes at Vanderbilt … saw a career-high 13 minutes against Savannah State, scoring her first career point on a free throw … played a season-high nine minutes against Illinois … grabbed a pair of rebounds in her college debut against Saint Francis (Pa.).

Pastor Jones
Senior Ebony Jones (Aiken, S.C./Aiken) has played in 20 games, including five starts … is scoring 4.3 ppg and is the team’s second-best 3-point shooter at 35.2 percent … keyed the second-half comeback against Florida with 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and a career-high five rebounds … hit a pair of 3-pointers en route to eight points at Alabama.

J.J. is Dy-no-mite
Freshman Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga./Collins Hill) leads the team in scoring at 12.2 ppg and is shooting 37.6 percent from 3-point range … has scored double-figure points in 15 games and has led the team in scoring seven times … scored nine points, all on 3-pointers, and swiped four steals at Vanderbilt … netted 10 points and picked up three steals against Arkansas … matched her season high with four assists playing the full 40 minutes at No. 8 LSU … netted 11 points against Florida, hitting three 3-pointers … sparked a comeback against Kentucky with 16 points on 3-of-6 from 3-point range … led the team with 18 points and handed out three assists at Mississippi … played 38 minutes against No. 2 Tennessee, adding eight points and three rebounds … did not start at Alabama after an injury in the previous game limited her practice time, but poured in three 3-pointers during a second-half comeback attempt to finish with nine points.

The Kennedy Legacy
Freshman Samone Kennedy (Birmingham, Ala./Ramsay) has played in 22 games, including five starts … leads the team with 79 assists and has scored 4.0 ppg … ranks among the SEC’s top 10 in assists per game (3.59) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.39) … was second on the team with 10 points, including 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, at Vanderbilt … drew her second-consecutive start at Mississippi and dished out a team-high six assists to just two turnovers … handed out five assists and swiped a pair of steals to go with six points against No. 2 Tennessee … dished out five assists and scored eight points at Alabama.

Jewel of the Nile
Freshman Jewel May (Conyers, Ga./Heritage) has come off the bench in 19 games, averaging 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds … sank both her field goal attempts in just five minutes at No. 8 LSU … grabbed a career-high six rebounds to tie for team-high honors against Florida … netted 10 points, including six straight during a second-half rally, against Kentucky … picked up a career-high five rebounds at Mississippi and scored seven points … added three points.

And All That Jas
Freshman Jasmine Payne (Bay Springs, Miss./Stringer) has played in 17 games, including three starts, and averages 3.0 points and 2.1 rebounds … made her third-straight start at No. 8 LSU, grabbing three rebounds … added four points and a pair of offensive rebounds as a starter against Florida … drew her first career start against Kentucky and snagged a season-best six rebounds.

Tolliver Twist
Senior Lakesha Tolliver (Columbia, S.C./Dreher) is third on the team in rebounding at 5.5 rpg and is scoring 8.9 ppg … became the school record holder for career blocked shots against Charleston Southern … has reached double-figure points in seven games … grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots against Arkansas … returned to the lineup at No. 8 LSU after missing the previous six games due to exertional headaches, adding six points and a pair of rebounds in 16 minutes.