Dec. 16, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina women’s basketball endured an offensive drought in the second half that lead to a 75-48 loss to a tough North Carolina State team Thursday night at the Colonial Center.
South Carolina’s record fell to 2-5 on the season. North Carolina State, who was receiving votes in this week’s national polls, won its sixth straight game. The Wolfpack is now 7-1 on the season, its only loss coming to No. 9 Tennessee.
USC held the lead for much of the opening half and trailed by just three points (25-22) at halftime.
Early in the game, the Gamecocks set the tone with their defense, limiting NC State to just one made basket in its first 13 attempts. USC also collected five blocks and limited the Wolfpack to just one shot per possession for the majority of the time.
Neither team shot the ball particularly well in the first 20 minutes. The Gamecocks were 7-of-22 (.318), while NC State hit 8-of-29 (.276).
The Wolfpack took their first lead of the game with 5:55 remaining in the first half on a jumper by Marquetta Dickens. They went into the locker room on top, 25-22, and would hold on to the lead for good.
NC State found its shooting touch in the second half and executed a huge run to take total control of the game. The Wolfpack shot 59 percent (23-of-39) in the second half.
After going down 11 in the opening minutes of the half, the Gamecocks pulled back in it, trailing by just two (44-42) with 12:45 to play in the game. The Wolfpack finished the game on a 31-6 run to put the game away.
Despite committing only nine turnovers in the opening half, USC finished the game with 24.
The Wolfpack scored 24 points off those turnovers and controlled the paint as well, out-scoring USC, 36-22.
Sophomore Larissa Kulcsar proved to be a bright spot offensively for the Gamecocks. After earning her second straight start, she put up a season-best 11 points, on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. Sophomore Angela Hunter also scored in double-figures for the second straight game, leading USC with 12 points.
Tiffany Stansbury led three Wolfpack players in double figures. Stansbury netted a game-high 22 points, Ashley Key scored 13 and Billie McDowell chipped in with 11.
USC returns to the court on Saturday when it plays Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Game time is set for 8 p.m.
