November 16, 2001

The University of South Carolina women’s basketball team tuned up for its promising 2001-02 campaign Wednesday night by defeating the Remus Austria Powerbasket team, 88-64 in exhibition play.

South Carolina senior Shaunzinski Gortman led the team in scoring with 18 points and junior Jocelyn Penn chipped in 16 for the Gamecocks. It was a total team effort by South Carolina, as ten different players scored in the game.

The Lady Gamecocks came out in the first a little stagnant and led by only eight points at halftime, but head coach Susan Walvius saw positives in the team’s performance. “It was nice to have two of our double-digit scorers back tonight (Jocelyn Penn and Kelly Morrone) and they did some good things,” said Walvius. “Overall, our focus will be on defense and rebounding. To compete in the SEC we must get better. Furman is always a well-disciplined, well-coached team.”

South Carolina did well on the boards, out rebounding Remus 33 to23, but Walvius sees room for improvement. “We weren’t very strong defensively or in rebounding, which surprised me. We’re going to have to work on that.”

USC hosts the Furman Paladins Friday night in the opening game of the season. Game time is 7:00 p.m.