Feb 16, 2003
By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Jocelyn Penn scored 29 points as No. 15 South Carolina beat 13th-ranked Arkansas 83-59 on Sunday.
Penn had led the nation in scoring earlier this year and, with her 51 points against Stetson on Jan. 4, became the first in Division I to break the half-century mark since Jackie Stiles did it for Southwest Missouri State nearly two years ago.
But as Southeastern Conference opponents focused on stopping Penn, her average steadily dropped from 28.2 following the effort against the Lady Hatters to 24.4 over the next 10 SEC games.
Penn got her game going again against the Lady Razorbacks (19-6, 6-4 SEC), notching her highest point total in six weeks. She hit a 3-pointer and a fast-break layup as South Carolina (18-6, 6-5) led 12-2.
After Arkansas came back to take its only lead, 16-15, Penn had a three-point play and six points in the Gamecocks’ 16-3 run.
When the Lady Razorbacks cut the lead to 42-37 early in the second half on back-to-back baskets by Dana Cherry, Penn had two inside buckets in South Carolina’s 9-0 run to extend the lead.
Ptra Ujhelyi pulls up for a jump shot in front of Arkansas’ Cara Wright in the first half.
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Cristina Ciocan added 21 points for South Carolina, which beat a ranked opponent for the first in eight games since winning at No. 17 Vanderbilt on Jan. 16.
Shameka Christon had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Razorbacks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Coming into the game, Arkansas looked like it had an edge. The Lady Razorbacks beat the Gamecocks earlier this season, holding Penn to 19 points. And South Carolina blew a 19-point lead and lost in double-overtime at Georgia this past Thursday.
Instead, it was the Gamecocks and Penn who came out fast.
With her team up 58-43, Penn scored six consecutive points, finishing a three-point play and stepping in front of Sarah Pfeifer to steal the ball and break in with an uncontested layup.
Penn finished 11-of-19 from the field with seven rebounds and four steals.
