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Nov. 19, 2006

The Basics
South Carolina (2-1 overall) hosts Clemson (1-2 overall) at 7 p.m. Monday at the Colonial Center.

Ticket Information
Adults are admitted for $10. Youths under the age of 18 are admitted for $5. A family of four is admitted for $20, with a $3 admission for each additional child. The group rate is $3 Groups must call the Colonial Center in advance. The group rate number is 803-576-9077. All other ticket arrangements can be made through the USC Ticket Office toll free at 800-4SC-FANS or locally at 803-777-4274. USC students, faculty and staff are admitted free with ID.

Ticket Promotions
The first 300 fans receive a free Beat Clemson t-shirt. It is Family Fun Night, with the following planned as pre-game activities at the Colonial Center:

>> Inflatable bounce houses for children.
>> Basketball shooting games with Cocky.
>> Face painting with the USC Cheerleaders.
>> Poster Making Station.
>> Book Drive to Benefit Books-a-rama. Accepting donations of unused children’s books. Proceeds to benefit Columbia hospitalized children and their families.

The Colonial Center doors open at 6 p.m.

About The Coaches
South Carolina Head Coach Susan Walvius is in her 10th year at the helm of the Gamecock women’s basketball program. The 2002 SEC Coach of the Year, Walvius led the Gamecocks to the Elite Eight in 2002 and has guided Carolina to the postseason in three of the last five seasons. She has attracted top-15 recruiting classes to Carolina in 2003 (10th) and in 2005 (13th). Cristy McKinney is in her second season at the helm of the Clemson women’s basketball team after becoming just the fourth head coach of the program on April 18, 2005. The North Carolina native enters her 13th overall year as a head coach, returning to the Carolinas following a 12-year head coaching stint at Rice University.

Clemson Head Coach
Cristy McKinney (NC State, 1979)
Career Record: 225-162 (14th year)
Record at Clemson: 9-23 (2nd year)

South Carolina Head Coach
Susan Walvius (Virginia Tech, 1986)
Career Record: 231-230 (17th year)
Record at USC: 133-129 (10th year)

Series History
Clemson owns a 31-20 advantage in the all-time series between the two Palmetto State heavyweights, but South Carolina owns a 13-10 advantage in games played in Columbia. The Gamecocks won last year’s meeting at Littlejohn Coliseum by a resounding 77-46 margin.

State Champs
South Carolina has been dominant over the other schools in the Palmetto State of late, winning each of its last six games against in-state opposition, dating back to a 2004 loss to Clemson. The Gamecocks own a 13-2 record in their last 15 games against teams from South Carolina.

A South Carolina Win Would…
>> Mark the Gamecocks’ 10th consecutive home victory over a non-conference opponent, dating back to last season.
>> Narrow Clemson’s advantage in the all-time series against South Carolina to 31-21.
>> Improve the Gamecocks to 14-10 all-time against Clemson in games played in Columbia.
>> Be the Gamecocks’ second straight win over Clemson, marking the first time since the 1989 and 1990 seasons that Carolina beat Clemson twice in a row.
>> Mark the Gamecocks’ seventh consecutive win over a Palmetto State opponent.
>> Mark Carolina’s 14th win in its last 16 games over teams from South Carolina.
>> Mark the Gamecocks’ second win in their last three home games played against Clemson, as the Gamecocks handed Clemson a 72-58 defeat in 2002 before dropping an 87-79 overtime decision to the Tigers in 2004.
>> Send the group of South Carolina seniors out with a .500 record against Clemson, as the current group of Gamecock seniors lost its first two games against Clemson before beating the Tigers last year.
>> Improve the Gamecocks to 72-67 all-time against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
>> Keep Carolina coach Susan Walvius perfect at 2-0 against Clemson coach Cristy McKinney.
>> Improve Susan Walvius’ record to 93-43 in regular-season games played against non-conference opposition.
>> Improve Susan Walvius’ record to 61-9 in regular season non-conference home games.

Sliskovic Can Move Into USC Blocks Top Five
Senior Iva Sliskovic is poised to move into the top five on South Carolina’s career blocked shots list, and should accomplish the feat very soon, as her 96 career blocked shots place her just three blocks behind the 99 rejections made by Teresa Geter from 2000-02. Geter is currently in sole possession of fifth place on the all-time Carolina list, with Michelle Murray (148 blocked shots from 1989-93) the school record holder.

Carolina vs. Clemson Career Numbers
South Carolina guard Stacy Booker has feasted on Clemson during her career, averaging 20.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game in her two games against Clemson. Booker has done her damage from the perimeter, draining seven-of-14 attempts from beyond the three-point arc against the Tigers. The only other Gamecock to average a double-figure scoring total against Clemson is Lauren Simms, who has averaged 12.7 points per game in her three games played against the Tigers. Iva Sliskovic has averaged 7.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in her three games played against Clemson.

Rivalry Game Experience
South Carolina knows exactly what to expect in terms of the intensity of the Carolina-Clemson rivalry, as the 13 active players on the Gamecock roster have combined to play in 26 games against Clemson. Lauren Simms and Iva Sliskovic have both started three times against the Tigers, with Lea Fabbri, Ilona Burgrova and Shannel Harris all starting twice in their careers against Clemson.

Top Individual Performances vs. Clemson
Senior guard Stacy Booker enjoyed the finest game of her career to date against Clemson in 2004, scoring 28 points, grabbing six rebounds and knocking down five of her 10 attempts from three-point range in the last meeting between the two schools played in Columbia. Senior guards Lauren Simms and Lea Fabbri were also outstanding in that same game, with Simms scoring 25 points and grabbing four rebounds and Fabbri scoring 15 points and dishing out 10 assists. Senior forward Iva Sliskovic posted a double-double in the last meeting between the two schools, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against the Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum in 2006. Fellow senior Larissa Kulcsar was productive in that contest as well, scoring 14 points and grabbing four rebounds. Kulcsar’s 14 points that day marked the second-highest scoring output of her career. Sliskovic had an interesting line in the 2004 Clemson game, scoring only one point but matching a career high with 14 rebounds.

Pick Your Poison
Depth and balance are two of South Carolina’s strengths. The Gamecocks do not have any single dominant player that opposing defenses can key on, rather, they have any number of players who can do damage. Among the illustrations of the Gamecocks’ depth and balance is the fact that eight of Carolina’s 13 active players have scored in double figures through only three games this year.

Carolina’s Double-Figure Scorers This Year
Iva Sliskovic – 3 games (ETSU, PSU, NCA&T)
Demetress Adams – 1 game (NCA&T)
Stacy Booker – 1 game (NCA&T)
Brionna Dickerson – 1 game (NCA&T)
Melanie Johnson – 1 game (ETSU)
Lauren Simms – 1 game (PSU)
Lakesha Tolliver – 1 game (ETSU)
Kellindra Zackery – 1 game (NCA&T)