Feb. 20, 2006
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THE BASICS
The South Carolina women’s basketball team (15-9 overall; 6-6 Southeastern Conference) steps away from the SEC portion of its schedule for a non-conference tilt with NCAA Division I Independent Longwood College (9-17 overall) set to tip off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Colonial Center.
ON THE AIR
The game will be broadcast live on WISW 1320 AM Radio Columbia, with Andy Demetra handling play-by-play and Robin Muller providing analysis. For listeners outside of Columbia, the live radio 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 go to the women’s basketball home page and click on “Schedule/Results”. At the top of the page is a link for Audio Broadcasts. Click on that link, then select the game you wish to listen to.
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Bring your “A” Game. All youths who show a report card with an “A” on it are admitted for only $2.
THE COACHES
Susan Walvius is in her ninth year at the helm of the South Carolina women’s basketball program and her 16th 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. Interim Longwood College Head Coach Nikki Atkinson assumed her current post on Jan. 1, 2006, replacing long-time Lancer mentor Shirley Duncan. Atkinson, a former player under Duncan, coached her first game as head coach against Charleston Southern, leading Longwood to a 70-55 win.
COACHING QUICK HITS
South Carolina
Susan Walvius
Alma Mater Virginia Tech, 1986
Carolina Record 129-126/9th year
Overall Record 227-227/16th year
Longwood
Nikki Atkinson (Interim Head Coach)
Alma Mater Longwood, 1997
Longwood Record 6-7/1st year
Overall Record 66-60/5th year
SOUTH CAROLINA FROM A DISTANCE
Height, experience, defense and balanced scoring are the name of the game for South Carolina, as the Gamecocks boast eight players that stand 6-0 or taller and rank as the 15th-tallest team in the nation. Carolina’s roster is dotted by eight juniors and one senior, but freshman Demetress Adams has emerged as a bright spot, ranking among the team leaders in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and steals. Playing very well of late, Carolina has won five of its last six games and has won its last four SEC road games, marking the first time since the Gamecocks joined the league that Carolina has accomplished that feat. The Gamecocks endured a brutal schedule to open the conference slate, facing No. 1 Tennessee, No. 3 LSU, No. 23 Vanderbilt and Kentucky in Lexington. Of Carolina’s nine losses this season, six came at the hands of ranked opponents, with a pair of additional losses coming to a very good Kentucky team.
LONGWOOD FROM A DISTANCE
The Lancers are entering the third year of their four-year reclassification period toward official certification in September 2007 operating under all NCAA rules and regulations, including the scheduling requirements. As a Division I Independent, Longwood has an eclectic schedule, but has faced a series of power-conference schools in Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Virginia. Senior forward Ashley Mason leads the Lancers in most statistical categories, including scoring (17.1 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg.) Mason and her twin sister, Amber, have both been recognized as NCAA Division I Player of the Week recipients this year. Earlier this year, Ashley Mason became the 17th player in Longwood history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark during her career, with Amber Mason having a chance to pass the 1,000-point mark against the Gamecocks Tuesday, as she enters the contest with 987 career points. The Lancers dropped a 69-60 decision to Maryland-Eastern Shore in their last game, which followed a 93-42 loss at Virginia the game prior. Of the power conference schools on Longwood’s schedule, the Lancers fared the best against Virginia Tech, with the Hokies claiming an 89-70 win on Dec. 28.
A CAROLINA WIN OVER LONGWOOD TUESDAY WOULD:
>> Mark Carolina’s sixth win in their last seven games overall.
>> Put a cap on the Gamecocks’ regular-season non-conference schedule with Carolina compiling a 10-3 record vs. non-conference opposition.
>> Give South Carolina one more win on its way to a possible NCAA Tournament berth. Carolina enters Tuesday’s game with 15 wins and is ranked 49th in Jeff Sagarin’s latest RPI rankings. Should the Gamecocks continue to finish the season as strong as they have, they would have the RPI ranking, the win total and the hot ending to the season that are all favorable in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee.
IN BOX WE TRUST
There was a new addition to the Carolina bench in the Gamecocks’ win over Florida in Gainesville last week, as a large cardboard box adorned the bench and accompanied Carolina on the court during the announcement of the starting lineups. The box was found and brought in by assistant coach Tammy Holder as a reminder to the team of the importance of boxing out. Carolina was outrebounded by smaller Mississippi State and Kentucky teams before the box’s arrival, but came back to out-rebound Florida by a 43-33 margin last game with the box on the bench. The box accompanied the team to Auburn, and sure enough, the Gamecocks claimed a win over the Tigers and outrebounded Auburn, 39-38 despite the fact that the Tigers held a height and size advantage. Freshly adorned with a full South Carolina jersey, the box was on the bench for the Gamecocks’ home win over Ole Miss, with the Gamecocks holding a hefty 47-30 rebounding edge over a Lady Rebel team that entered the game ranked second in the SEC in rebounding.
WHO’S GOT THE HOT HAND LATELY?
>> Junior Shannel Harris has become a clutch scorer for the Gamecocks of late, as she drained a pair of back-breaking jumpers to lift Carolina to a win at Auburn, then came back the next game to hit a pivotal three-pointer from the corner to dash Ole Miss’ hopes of a comeback at a crucial juncture of the Gamecocks’ win over the Lady Rebels. Harris averaged 9.0 points per game on 7-of-13 shooting from the field (53.8 percent) in Carolina’s two wins last week. Prior to those two contests, Harris averaged 2.5 points per game on 36.4 percent shooting from the field.
>> Junior Melanie Johnson enjoyed a career day in lifting the Gamecocks to an 81-63 win over Florida in Gainesville on Feb. 12. The Barnwell, S.C., native scored an all-time high 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out five assists to lead the Gamecocks over the Gators. Johnson posted another double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds in Carolina’s win over Ole Miss last Sunday. During the last five games, Johnson averages 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
>> Freshman Demetress Adams scored a career high 18 points and grabbed five rebounds against Kentucky on Feb. 9, then came back to score 18 more points and collect nine rebounds in the Gamecocks’ win over Florida in Gainesville. Adams converted on 14 of her 19 attempts from the field in those two games (73.7 percent.) Including her efforts against Kentucky and Florida, Adams has now scored in double figures in 10 games this year, with the Gamecocks winning eight of those contests.
WHAT’S NEXT
South Carolina returns to its SEC slate when it hosts Mississippi State at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Colonial Center. The game is a rematch of a 51-46 Carolina win in Starkville on Feb. 6 and is the 2005-06 home finale. The game will be senior Olga Gritsaeva’s final game at the Colonial Center in a Carolina uniform, with Gritsaeva being honored as part of the festivities. The game will be broadcast live on WISW 1320-AM with Andy Demetra handling play-by-play and Robin Muller providing analysis.
