Jan. 3, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Lindsay Whalen scored 24 points to surpass 2,000 for her career, and sixth-ranked Minnesota remained undefeated with a 63-53 victory Saturday over South Carolina.
Janel McCarville added 18 points for the Gophers (12-0). Iva Sliskovic led South Carolina (8-4) with 15 points.
Whalen became the third player in school history with 2,000 points when she converted a twisting layup and the ensuing free throw for a three-point play with 8:27 remaining. The senior guard finished with 2,004 and trails Carol Ann Shudlick by 93 points for Minnesota’s career lead.
South Carolina got five points from Lauren Simms during a 7-0 run midway through the first half to take a 20-16 lead.
But the Gophers responded with 16-2 spurt, using precision inside passing and their transition game to take a 36-26 lead at the half. Whalen got the run started with a no-look pass to Shannon Bolden for a layup, and added a 3-pointer, steal and fast-break basket in a 20-second span.
She also capped the half with an acrobatic drive to the hoop for a buzzer-beating layup in traffic.
The Gamecocks converted Minnesota turnovers into easy layups on three consecutive possessions early in the second half, cutting the Gophers’ lead to 40-32. But Whalen came to the rescue, hitting a pull-up jumper in the lane, then breaking down the defense and setting up Bolden for another layup to secure the lead.
