March 23, 2003

Box Score?|? Notes?|? Photo Gallery

By DAN LEWERENZ
Associated Press Writer

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Christina Ciocan scored eight of her 18 points during a 13-0 second-half run, lifting South Carolina past Chattanooga 68-54 Sunday in the Mideast Regional’s first round.

Ciocan played just seven minutes in the first half after picking up her third foul just 7? minutes into the game. She started again in the second half, but went back to the bench after picking up her fourth could with 17? minutes left.

When Ciocan returned midway through the second half, the fifth-seeded Gamecocks (23-7) trailed 49-48. Koretha Johnson made a free throw to tie it the game, then Ciocan scored eight of the next 12 points, including an open jumper that made it 61-49 with 3:18 left.

The No. 12-seed Lady Mocs (26-5) went scoreless for almost seven minutes before Miranda Warfield hit a baseline jumper to make it 61-51 with 2:54 left.

Jocelyn Penn added 15 points, and Sarah Burgess scored 11 for the Gamecocks.

Warfield led Chattanooga with 18 points, and Tiffany Patton added 14.

South Carolina trailed 22-18 in the first half before going on a 12-0 run. Burgess hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 9:27 left to start the run and created two steals that set up Gamecock baskets. Penn hit two free throws, a shot from the low block and a 3-pointer to make it 30-22 with six minutes left.