Dec. 15, 2005
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s basketball team defeated Ohio University, 77-49, on Thursday night at the Colonial Center. The Gamecocks won their second straight game and moved their season record to 4-3 while the Bobcats slipped to 2-6.
South Carolina enjoyed a strong effort from its bench, getting 56 points from players who did not start the game. Melanie Johnson produced an all-around effort for the Gamecocks, finishing with 12 points, a game-high six rebounds, five steals and three assists. Demetress Adams matched Johnson’s scoring effort with 12 points of her own, scoring in double-figures for the fourth time this season. Adams also set a season-high with four blocked shots.
Carolina out-scored Ohio in the paint, 36-14, tonight and produced 29 points off turnovers. On the other hand,USC limited its turnovers for the second straight game, committing a season-low eight. The Gamecocks had just 12 turnovers in Tuesday’s win over Minnesota. USC also grabbed a season-high 17 steals in the win, and hit 19-of-23 free throws, also a season best.
Junior guard Stacy Booker returned to the lineup tonight after missing Tuesday’s win over No. 14 Minnesota due to an ankle injury, and it was clear she was ready to play. Booker came off the bench to lead Carolina with nine points in the opening half on 3-of-4 shooting. Booker wasn’t the only productive bench player for USC as the reserves scored 25 of 31 first-half points. The Gamecocks held a 31-22 lead at the break, their largest of the half. Lauren Revesz paced Ohio with 12 points.
Revesz picked up her third foul quickly after the start of the second half and was tagged with No. 4 with 15:47 to play. The Gamecocks took advantage of Revesz being on the bench, steadlily building its lead in the next few minutes. Carolina went up by 20, 51-31, with 12:52 remaining and essentially put the Bobcats away.
Booker finished with nine points, and Iva Slikovic and Lakesha Tolliver added eight apiece. Overall, seven Carolina players scored at least six points in the victory.
South Carolina improved to 11-1 all-time against teams for the Mid-American Conference, including a 3-0 mark against Ohio.
The Gamecocks are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Colonial Center. The women’s team plays the first game of a doubleheader against South Carolina State at 5 p.m. The men’s team will follow with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Wofford.
