Nov. 18, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – – The South Carolina women’s basketball team opened its 32nd season of competition with a 71-35 win over High Point at the Colonial Center Friday. The game marked the season-opener for both teams. High Point’s 35 points was the fewest ever scored in the Colonial Center.
Juniors Melanie Johnson and Lauren Simms led the way for Carolina, with Johnson scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds and Simms scoring 12 points, marking Simms’ 28th career double-figure scoring game. Playing in the first game of her collegiate career, freshman Demetress Adams registered a double-double by scoring 11 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds, marking the most rebounds for a freshman since Iva Sliskovic grabbed 14 rebounds against Charlotte in 2003.
The win improved South Carolina’s all-time record in season openers to 22-10 and was the Gamecocks’ sixth win in nine season openers under head coach Susan Walvius. The win also improved Walvius’ record to 50-8 in non-conference games played in Columbia and marked Carolina’s eighth consecutive win in a season opener played in Columbia.
The game was never in doubt, as Carolina roared out to a 12-2 start after forcing High Point into six turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. The Gamecocks held the Panthers scoreless for a span of 7:48 in the first half and expanded their lead to 19-2 at the 11:43 mark, then went on to take a 36-17 lead into the locker room at halftime after freshman Brionna Dickerson’s jump shot found nothing but net with no time remaining on the clock.
It was more of the same in the second half, as the Gamecocks continually stifled the Panthers’ offensive attack. High Point finished the game with a .200 shooting percentage and turned the ball over 24 times. Preseason Big South Player of the Year Katie O’Dell led the way for the Panthers with 11 points.
The Gamecocks dominated High Point on the boards, setting a Colonial Center record by hauling in 58 rebounds to the Panthers’ 33.
The Gamecocks return to action when they host Winthrop at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Colonial Center in the second half of a doubleheader with the Carolina men’s team at the Colonial Center. The game will be broadcast live on WISW-AM 1320 with Andy Demetra handling play-by-play and Robin Muller providing analysis.
