February 3, 2002

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) _ Jocelyn Penn scored seven of her game-high 29 points during a pivotal 12-point run Sunday as No. 11 South Carolina stopped a 12-game losing streak to No. 12 Florida, 69-59.

Trailing 45-44, South Carolina (18-3, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) went ahead for good on Penn’s shot in the lane with 7:37 left. Penetrating to the basket with ease, Penn scored the next five points before Shaun Gortman followed with five points of her own to give the Gamecocks a 56-45 advantage with 3:55 left.

Aided by missed free throws, Florida (15-7, 5-4) closed within six points a couple of times but got no closer. Tamia Williams’ wild 3-point attempt banked off the glass well left of the rim in the final minute, ending the Lady Gators’ last chance to get within 3.

Gortman had 13 points, and Cristina Ciocan handed out 11 assists.

Brandi McCain led Florida with 14 points. South Carolina limited center Vanessa Hayden to 12 points, her SEC low for the year, and held Monique Cardenas to 2-for-13 shooting.

The Gamecocks rarely had come close to Florida since winning in February 1992, losing 11 of the next 12 games by double digits. Earlier this season, South Carolina won for the first time at Georgia Tech and Mississippi State.

Both teams were sloppy in the first half, committing 12 turnovers apiece as Florida took a 31-29 advantage into the break.