Nov. 20, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina women’s basketball team earned a dominating 80-48 victory over intra-state rival Clemson on Monday evening at the Colonial Center in Columbia. Carolina used a balanced scoring effort and an active to defense on its way to the third-most lopsided victory in series history. The Gamecocks improved to 3-1 on the season while Clemson fell to 1-3.
Demetress Adams finished with a double-double for South Carolina, the fourth of her career. Adams tallied a game-high 17 points to go with 11 rebounds. Freshman Kellindra Zackery reached double figures for the second straight game with 11 points and led the Gamecocks with four assists while Melanie Johnson had nine points and nine rebounds. Carolina had seven players score seven or more points.
The Tigers took an early lead, but South Carolina responded and quickly became too much for the visiting team. Clemson’s first three baskets were three-pointers and the Tigers got out to an 11-5 lead on the Gamecocks. Following the first media timeout, South Carolina picked up its defensive intensity and went on a scoring run to take control of the game. The Garnet and Black out-scored Clemson, 20-4, including a stretch of 18 unanswered points, for a 25-13 lead at the 11:38 mark.
Carolina held a 39-27 lead at the halftime break. Adams and Zackery shared high-scoring honors with eight points apiece. The Gamecocks forced 13 Tiger turnovers and racked up 12 steals in the opening half. Carolina also held a 32-21 rebounding advantage and ruled the paint, scoring 20 points and limiting Clemson to just four.
South Carolina opened the second half on a 17-2 scoring spurt that led to a 56-29 lead. The Gamecocks held Clemson to one made field goal in the first seven minutes of the second half. With 6:56 to play, Adams hit a pair of free throws to put the home team up by 30.
Clemson turned the ball over 23 times, marking the fourth time in four games the Gamecocks have forced more than 20 miscues by their opponent. Carolina finished with 19 steals and a 62-35 advantage on the boards.
Lele Hardy paced the Tigers offensively, knocking down 12 points while Morganne Campbell chipped in with 10. Clemson’s leading scorer, Tasha Taylor, played just seven minutes before eventually fouling out. She finished with three points.
South Carolina moved its record to 14-10 all-time against the Tigers in Columbia. Tonight’s win marked the second straight win over Clemson and the seventh consecutive Gamecock victory over an opponent from the Palmetto State.
The Gamecocks return to action this weekend when they host the South Carolina Thanksgiving Classic. Bethune-Cookman will face Louisiana-Lafayette in the first game on Friday, Nov. 24, at 5 p.m. and Carolina meets Mercer at 7 p.m. A consolation contest will be played on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 5 p.m. with the championship game following at 7 p.m.
