Dec. 17, 2005
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s basketball team routed South Carolina State University, 75-40, in the front end of a double-header Saturday night at the Colonial Center. The Gamecocks won their third game in five days, their longest win streak since claiming three straight from Dec. 20-29 last season.
South Carolina (5-3) entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in field goal defense percentage and remained in form, limiting the Bulldogs (3-5) to a season-low .226 shooting. The Gamecocks also forced a season-high 31 turnovers, led by three Gamecocks with three steals apiece.
Carolina enjoyed another strong outing from its bench, getting 46 points from players that did not start the game. Iva Sliskovic paced the Gamecocks with a season-high 13 points and nine rebounds. Melanie Johnson again produced an all-around effort, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Junior guard Lauren Simms did not score a point for only the second time in her career. The last time she did not score was in a 77-53 loss to North Carolina on Dec. 20, 2003. All but two players scored in the game for Carolina, including Ebony Jones’ five point outing, a career-high for the former team manager.
The Gamecocks owned a 26-11 halftime advantage, the fewest points they have allowed in a half this season. USC has led at the break in all eight of its games this season. Carolina held its largest lead when Jones hit a three-pointer with 33.8 seconds left to lead 75-37. The 40 points scored mark a season-low for the Bulldogs, whose previous mark was 47 points scored against Marshall on Nov. 19.
Melaney Denson led the Bulldogs with 13 points, while Ashley Dublin finished with 11.
South Carolina continues its five-game homestand over a nine-day periodon Monday, Dec. 19, when it hosts Savannah State. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
