Feb. 4, 2005

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

THE BASICS
South Carolina (6-15 overall; 0-7 Southeastern Conference) returns home to host Auburn (11-9 overall; 2-5 SEC) at 3 p.m. (EST) Sunday at the Colonial Center.

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
In-depth live stats can be accessed on the internet by visiting www.uscsports.com, then going to the women’s basketball schedule page and clicking on the “Gametracker” link for the Auburn game.

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 first year at Auburn, Nell Fortner is well-known in women’s basketball circles after leading Purdue to the 1997 Big Ten Championship, then serving as head coach and general manager of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever from 2001-03.

A CAROLINA WIN WOULD:
• Mark the Gamecocks’ second win in their last three meetings with Auburn. • Mark USC’s third consecutive win over Auburn in games played in Columbia. • Snap South Carolina’s 13-game losing streak against teams from the SEC. The Gamecocks’ last win over an SEC opponent was a 77-51 victory over Alabama on Feb. 12, 2004.

A CAROLINA LOSS WOULD:
• Mark the Gamecocks’ third loss in their last four meetings with Auburn. • Move the Gamecocks to 0-8 this year in conference play and extend the Carolina’s losing streak against SEC opposition to 14 games, with the last win a 77-51 victory over Alabama on Feb. 12, 2004. • Mark the Gamecocks’ 10 loss in their last 11 games this year.

CAROLINA’S KEY NUMBERS
• 20:00 – The Gamecocks are yet to win a game in which they trailed at the half. Conversely, Carolina is 6-3 when leading after the first 20 minutes of play.

• 10 – The Gamecocks are 0-6 this year in games decided by 10 points or less, and are 0-12 in their last 12 games decided 10 points or less, dating back to an 81-79 win over Southern Utah on Dec. 5, 2003.

• 20 – Carolina is 0-13 in games decided by less than 20 points this year. Dating back to last season, the Gamecocks have lost their last 24 games decided by less than 20 points.

• 3/10 – South Carolina is 5-2 in games this season when three or more players score at least 10 points in the same game. The Gamecocks are 1-13 when two players or less hit double-figures.

• 40% – Carolina is 0-12 this year when shooting less than 40 percent from the field. Conversely, the Gamecocks’ opposition is 7-1 when shooting 40 percent from the field.

• 66 – Dating back to a 65-54 win over Auburn on Feb. 23, 2003, USC has lost its last 29 games when scoring less than 66 points.

• 16 – Carolina is 5-0 this season in games in which it distributes 16 assists as a team.

• 23 – …as in the jersey number of Melanie Johnson. In South Carolina’s six wins, Johnson averages 14.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 4.8 steals per game. In Carolina’s 15 losses, Johnson averages 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. South Carolina is 6-1 when Johnson scores in double figures.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Gamecocks open a brutal three-game stretch when they travel to Athens to play Georgia at 7 p.m. Thursday. Immediately following are games against top-ranked LSU and at Tennessee. Thursday’s game against the Bulldogs 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. ┢┢