Jan. 13, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina women’s basketball team dismantled College of Charleston, 67-37, in a non-conference, intra-state battle on Thursday night inside the Colonial Center. The Gamecocks won their 23rd straight game over teams from the Southern Conference and improved to 6-10 on the season. The Cougars to fell to 5-7 overall.
On the way to the victory, USC held the Cougars to just 20.6 percent shooting from the floor, a new Colonial Center record for field goal percentage defense. The Gamecocks also recorded 55 rebounds and 11 blocks, both of which are facility records.
Sophomore Melanie Johnson asserted herself on both ends of the floor in the early going. By halftime, the Barnwell native had scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, blocked three shots and collected three steals. She went on to finish with a career-best 19 points and 15 rebounds and matched a career high with five blocks.
Freshman Ilona Burgrova joined Johnson in double-figures with 11 points. It was a team effort offensively as all but one USC player entered the scoring column, including freshman Ebony Jones, who saw her first action of the season after making the transition from team manager to player in December.
USC carried a 32-16 lead into the halftime break. A stingy effort limited College of Charleston to 21 percent shooting from the field. The Gamecocks played to their height-advantage, outscoring the Cougars 24-8 in the paint.
For the game, Carolina out-rebounded Charleston, 55-40, and scored 40 of its 67 points in the paint.
Patrice Bryant led the way for the Cougars with 14 points. She was the only Cougar player to crack double-figures in scoring.
The Gamecocks are 20-4 all-time in non-conference games played at the Colonial Center. USC also extended its win streak over the Cougars to six straight and the Gamecocks have come out victorious in 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools.
The Gamecocks are back in action on Sunday, Jan 16., as they play host to Florida. Tip time is set for 2 p.m. at the Colonial Center.
