Jan. 18, 2004

Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes

Columbia, S.C. – The Arkansas Razorbacks got their first win in Columbia since winning 88-80 on January 24, 1999 by defeating South Carolina 66-52 on Sunday at the Colonial Center, in front of 1,593 fans. The loss dropped South Carolina to 8-7 overall and to 0-3 in the conference while the Hogs improved to 13-3 overall and to 2-1 in the SEC. The loss was South Carolina’s sixth in a row.

USC scored first on a Olga Gritsaeva free throw to go up 1-0 and then had their second lead of the game when Gritsaeva got a steal and then a lay up to put USC up 3-2. The 3-2 lead with 17:36 remaining was the only lead that the Gamecocks would have for the remainder of the game. After the steal, and lay up by Gritsaeva, Arkansas went on a 13-2 run over the next five minutes of the game to go up 16-5 and would take a 28-18 lead at the half.

In the second half, USC shot the ball better and got more help by going 11 of 22 from the free throw line but that would not be enough as they could never pull within seven points. The Gamecocks cut the lead to seven points five times in the second half with the last time happening at the 4:22 mark remaining in the game but Shameka Christon and the Razorbacks would answer back every time and eventually go on to win the SEC contest 66-52.

The Gamecocks were paced by Kelly Morrone who hit 15 points, seven of them coming from the free throw line. Lauren Simms netted 10 while Olga Gritsaeva hit nine and Iva Sliskovic tallied eight and grabbed 11 boards.

Senior Shameka Christon tallied a season high 31 points to pace the Hogs, and got help from Katrina Nesby who hit 11. Rochelle Vaughn scored six points but also posted nine assists, and nine rebounds.

South Carolina returns to action on January 22 at 7:00 P.M. in Gainesville to face the Florida Gators.