Jan. 31, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – Stacy Booker decided to take matters into her own hands. After a missed jump shot by Kentucky point guard Carly Ormerod, Booker alertly poked the loose ball away from her counterpart and towards Carolina’s basket. The senior spark plug then started a fast break and finished it herself with a driving lay-up. The acrobatic play highlighted a 9-0 second half run for the Gamecocks as they beat the rival Wildcats 66-56 last Sunday at the Colonial Center.
“I’m always thinking about that moment,” reflected Booker. “That play helped get us going. I think that’s what got the crowd going too.”
Booker and forward Melanie Johnson combined for 26 points and 18 rebounds, scoring all but two of those points after halftime. Each basket seemed to include an extra jolt of energy as the Gamecocks picked up their second straight win following a two game slide.
“After the last couple of games, we looked at ourselves in the mirror,” said Head Coach Susan Walvius. “We had to get back to what we did last year. That was just a mentality to go out and outwork teams. I think our team has really responded.”
It began with a 28-point win over Florida last Thursday at the Colonial Center. The Gators scored the first field goal of the game, but it was all Gamecocks after that, thanks to a 25-3 run. Carolina answered the challenge from the coaching staff, winning both the turnover and the rebounding battles. That was not the case in the back-to-back losses suffered in Mississippi.
“Against Mississippi State and Ole Miss, I think we were flat,” said junior center Ilona Burgrova. “Now we are communicating better with each other.”
Carolina is hoping to carry that momentum into the second half of the SEC schedule, when it will step into the ring with the heavyweights. The first bout is Thursday night in Knoxville against No. 3 Tennessee, followed by a home date with No. 7 LSU on Sunday.
“The crowd is a big influence for Tennessee because it’s always big no matter what team it is,” said Booker. “Blocking the crowd out, staying focused, and just playing the game are big keys.”
The Gamecocks have never beaten the Lady Vols in Knoxville. But with such an experienced group, they certainly won’t be intimidated, especially riding this two game winning streak.
“I think that this is the best time to face Tennessee,” said Burgrova. “If we would have faced them after the Mississippi State game, then I don’t think we would be as confident. But right now we are pumped up, so I think that we can do it.”
A little bit of confidence can go a long way.
Fast Break Points
Milestone Marker: The countdown continues for a pair of seniors in their pursuit of 1,000 career points. Guard Lauren Simms is just 11 away, while forward Iva Sliskovic needs 65.
Glimmer of Hope: The Lady Vols are well-known for their pyrotechnics display during the starting lineups at home games. All of the lights will go out at Thopmson-Boling Arena on Thursday, except for one: a mini-flashlight, so yours truly can announce the lineups on the radio.
Programming note: Don’t miss another edition of the Susan Walvius TV show, Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable Channel 7.
