Feb. 2, 2007
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The Basics
South Carolina (13-10 overall; 3-5 Southeastern Conference) is home to host No. 7 LSU (20-3 overall; 6-2 SEC) at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Colonial Center.
Series History
LSU owns a 15-3 advantage in the all-time series with South Carolina and has won each of the last nine head-to-head meetings between the two schools. The Gamecocks’ last win over the Tigers was a 76-61 triumph at the 1998 SEC Tournament. LSU is 7-1 against the Gamecocks in Columbia, with South Carolina’s lone win a 66-56 decision in 1993. The Tigers have dominated the Gamecocks lately, winning each of the last three meetings by 20 points or more and winning each of the last two meetings by 30 and 33 points, respectively.
Simms Could Hit 1,000-Point Mark Sunday
Senior guard Lauren Simms is flirting with the 1,000-point mark for her career, as she enters Sunday’s game with 993 career points and needs just seven points to become the 26th player in South Carolina history to score 1,000 career points.
LSU is Carolina’s Fourth Top-10 Opponent This Year
Entering Sunday’s game ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press poll, LSU is the fourth top-10 team that South Carolina has faced this year, as the Gamecocks hosted then-No. 3 Oklahoma on Dec. 7, traveled to No. 10 Stanford for a Jan. 8 date with the Cardinal and are coming off Thursday’s road trip to No. 3 Tennessee. The Gamecocks faced seven top-10 opponents in 1989-90, faced six top-10 foes in 1990-91 and went toe-to-toe with five top-10 opponents during the 2000-01 campaign.
Ticket Promotions
Fans who bring a canned food item to Sunday’s game will be admitted for only three dollars. Proceeds benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank.
On The Air
The game will be broadcast live on WISW 1320 AM Radio in Columbia, with Brad Heller handling play-by-play duties and Robin Muller providing analysis. For fans outside of the Columbia area, the game can be accessed worldwide via the internet at uscsports.com.
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). In her third year as Head Coach at LSU, Pokey Chatman led her alma mater to back-to-back-to-back trips to the NCAA Final Four in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to go with SEC regular-season crowns in both 2005 and 2006. For her efforts, Chatman was honored as the National Coach of the Year in 2005. A Kodak All-American as a point guard for LSU in 1991, Chatman was a three-time all-SEC selection.
LSU From A Distance
The two-time reigning SEC Champions, LSU enters Sunday’s game coming off a tough 53-51 loss at Georgia Thursday. The Bulldogs won that game on an Ashley Houts buzzer-beater from the baseline. There is nobody better than LSU when it comes to stifling opposing offenses, as the Tigers lead the nation by allowing a paltry 46.9 points per game. LSU has limited its opposition to .309 pct. shooting from the field. The Tigers take good care of the ball as well, committing an SEC-low 13.7 turnovers per game. Center Sylvia Fowles controls the paint for LSU, averaging 17.3 points and an SEC-best 11.8 rebounds per game. Fowles ranks among the top five players in the conference in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. Guard Quianna Chaney brings 12.6 points per game to the Tigers’ attack, with backcourt mate Erica White quarterbacking the offense with 4.0 assists per game.
A South Carolina Win Over LSU Would…
:: Snap the Tigers’ nine-game winning streak over the Gamecocks that dates back to a 76-61 Carolina triumph in 1998.
:: Mark the Gamecocks’ first win over a ranked opponent since a 79-61 victory over No. 14 Minnesota last year.
:: Mark the Gamecocks’ first win over a team ranked in the top 10 since a 71-52 victory over No. 6 Vanderbilt in 2002.
:: Give the Gamecocks their third SEC win in their last four games, with the only loss coming at the hands of No. 3 Tennessee in Knoxville.
:: Improve the Gamecocks’ home record to 13-3 this season.
:: Mark the Gamecocks’ fourth straight win in the Colonial Center and their eighth win in their last nine home games.
Tolliver Brings Blocks Streak Into Sunday’s Game
Junior forward Lakesha Tolliver enters Sunday’s game against LSU having blocked at least one shot in each of her last 16 games. Tolliver has rejected more than one shot in a game in 12 of her last 13 games played, including a pair of blocks in Carolina’s last game at Tennessee.
The Iron Unkind
South Carolina is a team that is built to get the bulk of its scoring production from inside and in transition, so it should come as no surprise that the Gamecocks average only 2.78 three-pointers made per game. That said, three-point shooting has fallen off the last few games, as Carolina has drained only two of its last 26 attempts from three-point range in the last three contests (.077 pct) and has missed its last 22 three-point attempts. The Gamecocks did not make a three-pointer in either of their last two games against Kentucky (0-for-8) and at Tennessee (0-for-7).
Noting South Carolina’s Schedule
The Gamecocks are 13-9 on the year, with their nine losses coming at the hands of teams that have combined to post a 139-55 record (.716 winning pct.) A closer look at Carolina’s stiffest opposition this year:
Opponent Record (As of 2/3)
at Penn State…… 11-12
Louisiana-Lafayette…… 18-6
at NC State…… 16-7
No. 3 Oklahoma…… 17-3
Kentucky…… 14-9
at No. 10 Stanford…… 19-3
No. 14 Vanderbilt…… 19-4
at No. 24 Ole Miss…… 17-6
at Mississippi State…… 14-8
at No. 3 Tennessee…… 20-2
Combined Record…… 165-60 (.733 win pct.)
Season Trends
:: South Carolina is 12-1 when leading at the half this year.
:: Carolina is 9-1 when its starting five outscores that of the opposition.
:: The Gamecocks are 11-2 when shooting 40 percent or better from the field.
:: Carolina is 12-1 when shooting at a higher percentage from the field than the opposition.
:: Carolina is 10-0 when shooting more free throws than the opposition.
:: The Gamecocks are 10-2 when dishing out 16 or more assists as a team.
:: Carolina is 6-1 when playing during the day.
:: South Carolina is 11-1 when scoring 70 or more points.
