Feb. 8, 2005
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THE BASICS
South Carolina (6-16 overall; 0-8 Southeastern Conference) travels to Athens to face No. 18/18 Georgia (18-6 overall; 7-3 SEC) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Stegeman Coliseum.
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.
One of the great coaches in the game, Andy Landers is in his 26th season at Georgia, where he has led the Bulldogs to five appearances in the Final Four and seven SEC championships.
A CAROLINA WIN WOULD:
* Snap South Carolina’s 13-game losing streak against ranked opponents. The Gamecocks’ last win over a ranked team was an 83-59 victory over No. 13 Arkansas on Feb. 16, 2003. Carolina’s last road win over a ranked opponent was a 66-57 triumph over No. 17 Vanderbilt on Jan. 16, 2003. From that game forward, USC has dropped its last 12 games vs. ranked opposition away from home.
* Snap the Gamecocks’ 11-game road losing streak against SEC opponents. South Carolina’s last road win over an SEC opponent was a 79-64 victory over Ole Miss on March 2, 2003.
* Be the Gamecocks’ first road win against any opponent this season. Dating back to last season, the Gamecocks have lost 12 consecutive road games, with the last win an 84-61 triumph over the College of Charleston on Jan. 28, 2004.
* Snap South Carolina’s 14-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:
* Extend South Carolina’s losing streak against ranked opponents to 14 games. The Gamecocks’ last win over a ranked team was an 83-59 victory over No. 13 Arkansas on Feb. 16, 2003. Carolina’s last road win over a ranked opponent was a 66-57 triumph over No. 17 Vanderbilt on Jan. 16, 2003. From that game forward, USC has dropped its last 12 games vs. ranked opposition away from home.
* Extend the Gamecocks’ road losing streak against SEC opponents to 12 games. South Carolina’s last road win over an SEC opponent was a 79-64 victory over Ole Miss on March 2, 2003.
* Mark the Gamecocks’ 13th consecutive road loss, with the last win an 84-61 triumph over the College of Charleston on Jan. 28, 2004.
* Move the Gamecocks to 0-9 this year in conference play and extend the Carolina’s losing streak against SEC opposition to 15 games, with the last win a 77-51 victory over Alabama on Feb. 12, 2004.
* Mark the Gamecocks’ 11 loss in their last 12 games this year.
FABBRI OUT INDEFINITELY
Point guard Lea Fabbri flew home to Croatia on Friday, Feb. 4 to be with her father, Fabio, who is ill in the hospital. No date has been set for Fabbri’s return to the Gamecock roster.
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 0-11 in their last 11 games decided 10 points or less, dating back to an 81-79 win over Southern Utah on Dec. 5, 2003.
* 20 – Carolina is 0-14 in games decided by less than 20 points this year. Dating back to last season, the Gamecocks have lost their last 25 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 1-14 when two players or less hit double-figures.
* 40% – Carolina is 0-13 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 30 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.
MURDERER’S ROW
South Carolina opens up a three-game stretch in the schedule when it travels to Georgia for a Thursday night game, then comes home to host top-ranked LSU before traveling to Knoxville for a rematch with Tennessee. Carolina is 8-67 all-time against those three schools.
OUT OF WHACK STAT VS. AUBURN
No South Carolina player scored in double figures in the team’s 56-47 loss last game against Auburn. The last time that happened was in a 74-46 loss at Arkansas on Jan. 27, 2003.
UNDERCLASSMEN ABOUND
There are no seniors on the South Carolina roster. In fact, the team has only one junior. Forward Olga Gritsaeva is the only upperclassman on a roster that features eight sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and one true freshman.
YOUTH SHOWS IN CLOSE GAMES
With a roster featuring no seniors and only one junior, South Carolina is 0-6 this year in games decided by 10 points or less and 0-14 in games decided by less than 20 points. Dating back to last year, the Gamecocks have lost their last 11 games decided by 10 points or less and their last 25 games decided by less than 20 points.
STARTING LINEUPS LIKE FINGERPRINTS…NO TWO ARE ALIKE
South Carolina fielded its 12th different starting lineup of the year in last Sunday’s game against Auburn. With the exception of team-manager-turned-shooting-guard Ebony Jones, every player on the active roster has started at least three games this season. Lauren Simms is the only player to start in every game this year.
SUPER SUNDAY ATTENDANCE
A crowd of 5,112 fans was on hand to watch the Gamecocks face Auburn on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 6, marking the largest home crowd Carolina has played in front of all season. In fact, the figure was the third-highest ever for a women’s game at the Colonial Center and the seventh highest in school history.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Gamecocks continue a brutal three-game stretch when they host LSU at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Colonial Center. Immediately following is a game at Tennessee. Sunday’s game against the Tigers 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.
