Feb 27, 2003

By JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Jocelyn Penn scored 35 points and had eight rebounds but sprained her ankle late in No. 16 South Carolina’s 97-51 defeat of Kentucky on Thursday night.

Penn injured her right ankle with 6:25 to go when she was fouled going for a layup with the Gamecocks (20-6, 8-5 Southeastern Conference) ahead 81-44. Trainers took her immediately into the locker room and she did not return.

South Carolina coach Susan Walvius said after the game that Penn’s ankle was sprained. Doctors were still evaluating the injury, but Walvius said Penn should be back by the SEC tournament that begins March 6.

The 46-point margin of victory was the largest ever for South Carolina in SEC play.

Shambrica Jones led the Wildcats (11-14, 4-9) with 14 points. Sese Helm had 11 points and seven rebounds.

South Carolina’s Cristina Ciocan scored 21 points and had six rebounds and six assists. Petra Ujhelyi added 17 points and eight rebounds.

Penn’s 35 points were the most for her in an SEC game this season, and her best outing since setting a school record with 51 points against Stetson on Jan. 4.

Penn also had eight steals, tying her with Alabama’s Niesa Johnson for the SEC career record of 350.

South Carolina’s defense stifled Kentucky for the first 13 minutes. The Wildcats missed 15 of their first 17 shots and turned the ball over seven times as the Gamecocks took a 26-8 lead.

And even after Kentucky finally made some shots, the Gamecocks answered, ending the half on a 16-8 run to lead 42-20 at the break.

South Carolina’s biggest lead at 92-45 came with less than three minutes left.

The Gamecocks honored Penn and fellow seniors Ujhelyi and Linda Hoglund before the game. They leave with South Carolina in much better shape than when they came.

South Carolina went 0-14 in the SEC in 1999 during Penn’s freshman year, and only improved to 3-11 in the league when Ujhelyi and Hoglund debuted.