Dec. 19, 2005
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Five South Carolina players scored in double figures as the Gamecocks rolled to a 94-37 victory over Savannah State in women’s basketball action on Monday night at the Colonial Center. Carolina won its fourth straight game and moved its record to 6-3 while Savannah State dropped to 1-11.
Stacy Booker secured game-high scoring honors with 19 points and freshman Demetress Adams tied her career-high with 17 points and added 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season in only 18 minutes of action. Lea Fabbri scored 11 points and Lauren Simms and Melanie Johnson both finished with 10 points.
The Gamecocks jumped out to an 8-0 lead and did not trail the entire game. South Carolina’s pressure defense forced the Lady Tigers to give up the ball 18 times in the first half. The Gamecocks converted those turnovers into 23 points. The Gamecocks were unselfish as seven different players assisted on 11 of the team’s 14 made baskets in the opening 20 minutes. Stacy Booker and Lea Fabbri led Carolina in scoring with eight points apiece. The Gamecocks led, 44-24, at halftime.
USC opened the second half on a 24-0 run, holding Savannah State scoreless until there were 9:33 remaining the game. The Tigers scored just 13 points in the second and made only two field goals.
The Garnet and Black out-rebounded the Tigers, 58-23, including pulling down 29 offensive rebounds. and held Savannah State to 25.6 percent shooting from the field. The Gamecocks, who ranked second nationally in field-goal percentage defense coming into the week, have not allowed an opponent to shoot over 40 percent this season.
Shannel Harris dished out a career-high five assists. Iva Sliskovic had six points and nine rebounds. The Gamecocks’ bench scored 58 points in tonight’s victory.
South Carolina’s 57-point win is the third-most lopsided under head coach Susan Walvius. It was also the Gamecocks’ biggest win since the 2003 season.
Carolina completes its stretch of five home games in nine days on Wednesday, Dec. 21, when Bethune-Cookman visits the Colonial Center for a 7 p.m. contest.
