Jan. 3, 2003

The 16th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks entertain Stetson University Saturday night at the Carolina Center in the last of the non-conference games before jumping into SEC play next week. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.

Saturday’s game has been designated as “Dads and Daughters” Night at the Carolina Center. Each Dad and daughter who attends the Saturday night contest will be admitted for $2.00 each.

This is the third meeting between the two schools with USC leading the series by a 2-0 advantage. The teams last met in Deland, Florida, during the 1982-83 season with USC capturing the contest, 74-69.

USC enjoys an 11-1 record entering the game and with a victory against Stetson, South Carolina would carry a 12-1 mark into its first SEC game for a second straight season.

Jocelyn Penn leads the Gamecock scoring with an average of 26.3 points per contest while Petra Ujhelyi paces the rebounding with 10.6 boards per game. If the senior post player continues her rebounding pace and her 11.5 scoring average, Ujhelyi would be the first Gamecock since Marsha Williams to average double figures in points and rebounds (1991-92 21.4 ppg & 11.3 rpg).

The Stetson Hatters, members of the Atlantic Sun Conference, bring a 1-8 mark into the game. The one victory came against Savannah State on December 16th. Like South Carolina, the Hatters are also led by a player named Jocelyn, but it is Joslyn Giles who paces Stetson in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. The freshman from Winter Haven, Florida, averages 12.3 points, 7.6 boards and 1.9 blocks per game. Sophomore Kristy Brown contributes 11.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Hatters.