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Jan. 5, 2005
HEADLINES
o South Carolina (5-8 overall) opens its SEC schedule when it hosts Mississippi State (10-2 overall) at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Colonial Center. The Gamecocks have won three of their last five meetings with the Bulldogs and are in search of their fourth win in their last five SEC openers.
o Thursday’s game is a classic game of experience vs. youth, as Mississippi State has nine players on its roster that are either juniors or seniors, while South Carolina has only one junior (Olga Gritsaeva) and no seniors.
o With the entire conference season yet to play, Columbia native Lakesha Tolliver (Dreher HS) has already set a new South Carolina freshman record with 33 blocked shots, eclipsing the previous record of 32 set in 1980-81 by Philicia Allen. The school record for blocked shots in a single-season is held by Teresa Geter, who swatted 58 shots in 2000-01.
o South Carolina owns a 5-2 record in games played against Mississippi State in Columbia.
o Mississippi State brings with it the SEC’s leading scorer in senior forward Tan White. White averages 22.0 points per game.
THE BASICS
South Carolina (5-8 overall) opens its SEC schedule when it hosts Mississippi State (10-2 overall) at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Colonial Center. The Gamecocks have won three of their last five meetings with the Bulldogs and are in search of their fourth win in their last five SEC openers..
ON THE AIR
The game will be broadcast live on WISW 1320 AM Columbia, with Andy Demetra handling play-by-play and Robin Muller providing analysis. For listeners outside of Columbia, the live broadcast will also be aired worldwide via the internet on the official web site of South Carolina athletics, www.uscsports.com.
ACCESSING THE WEB BROADCAST
To access the internet broadcast, go to www.uscsports.com, then click the “Audio/Video” link at the top of the screen. Follow the prompts from there to select the game you want to listen to.
MORE FROM THE WEB
Comprehensive live stats can be found online at www.uscsports.com. Simply go to the women’s basketball schedule page and click on the “Gametracker” link for the appropriate game.
BRING A BISCUIT FOR PROJECT PET
With the Gamecocks hosting the Bulldogs, all fans that come to Thursday’s game with a dog biscuit for Project Pet will be admitted for only two dollars.
SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Season tickets for South Carolina women’s basketball are now available for only $40, making Gamecock women’s hoops one of the best values in town. The Gamecocks play in the premier women’s basketball conference in America, and the SEC schedule is one that gives fans the chance to see some of the best women’s basketball players in America night in and night out.
THE COACHES
Susan Walvius is in her eighth year at the helm of the South Carolina women’s basketball program and her 15th year overall as a head coach. Prior to USC, she coached at Virginia Commonwealth and West Virginia. The 2002 SEC Coach of the Year led the Gamecocks to consecutive top-20 national finishes and NCAA tournament appearances in 2002 and 2003. Her 2002 squad advanced to the Elite Eight. In her 10th season at MSU and 29th year overall in coaching, Sharon Fanning owns a career head coaching mark of 485-341 (.587) after a 2003-04 season that brought her 150th win at MSU and 400th win for the Lady Bulldog program. In the past nine years at State, Fanning has led the Lady Bulldog program to become national contenders. She has coached MSU to five winning seasons and six postseason appearances during her tenure. The Fanning era has produced the first national ranking for women’s basketball, first two 20+ win seasons, a 10-win SEC record and first appearance in the SEC Championship game. Prior to her arrival at Mississippi State in 1995, Fanning served as head coach at Kentucky (1987-95) and Tennessee-Chattanooga (1976-87).
A CAROLINA WIN WOULD:
o Mark the fourth win in the last five SEC openers for Susan Walvius and the Gamecocks. o Improve Walvius’ record in SEC openers to 4-4. Prior to her arrival at Carolina, the Gamecocks were 2-4 in SEC openers under her immediate predecessor, Nancy Wilson. o Be Susan Walvius’ fourth win over Mississippi State, representing her third-highest win total over any SEC opponent (under Walvius, the Gamecocks have beaten Kentucky seven times and Ole Miss five times. o Improve South Carolina to 6-2 all-time in games played against Mississippi State in Columbia. o Mark the Gamecocks’ fourth win in their last six games against Mississippi State. o Snap South Carolina’s six-game losing streak against SEC opponents. The Gamecocks’ last win against an SEC opponent was a 77-51 triumph over Alabama on Feb. 12 of last year.
A CAROLINA LOSS WOULD:
o Mark the Gamecocks’ seventh consecutive defeat at the hands of an SEC opponent. o Be the team’s third consecutive defeat, marking the longest such skid of the season. o Mark the Gamecocks’ seventh consecutive defeat at the hands of an SEC opponent. The Gamecocks’ last win against an SEC opponent was a 77-51 triumph over Alabama on Feb. 12 of last year.
CAROLINA’S KEY NUMBERS
o 20:00 – The Gamecocks are yet to win a game in which it trailed at the half. Conversely, Carolina is 5-1 when leading after the first 20 minutes of play.
o 40 – Carolina is 0-6 this year when shooting less than 40 percent from the field. Conversely, the Gamecocks’ opposition is 5-1 when shooting 40 percent from the field.
o 60 – The Gamecocks are 0-5 this season when scoring less than 60 points.
o 66 – Dating back to Feb. 23, 2003, USC has lost its last 22 games when scoring less than 66 points.
o 16 – Carolina is 5-0 this season in games in which it distributes 16 assists as a team.
o 10 – The Gamecocks are 0-3 this year in games decided by 10 points or less.
o 23 – …as in the jersey number of Melanie Johnson. In South Carolina’s five wins, Johnson averages 14.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 5.0 steals per game. Her season averages are 7.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 2.8 steals per game.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
o Entering Thursday’s game as winners of nine consecutive games, Mississippi State is 10-2 overall on the year, with one of its two losses coming at the hands of No. 3/9 Baylor.
o The Lady Bulldogs boast the SEC’s leading scorer in senior guard Tan White. White averages 22.0 points per game.
o As a team, Mississippi State ranks third in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing only 52.0 points per game.
o The Lady Bulldogs are a very experienced group, as nine players on the Mississippi State roster are either juniors or seniors. In comparison, South Carolina has only one junior and no seniors on its roster.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Gamecocks are back in action when they travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt Sunday at 3 p.m. (EST). The game will be broadcast live on WISW 1320 AM Columbia and on the internet at www.uscsports.com, with Andy Demetra handling play-by-play and Robin Muller providing analysis.
