Feb. 28, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – Lakesha Tolliver walked away from the team huddle feeling uneasy. With the Gamecocks trailing Mississippi State by three and only 18 seconds remaining, the coaching staff called on the redshirt-junior from Columbia to attempt the tying shot.
“At first I was thinking, `Oh my goodness, I’m shooting a three!'” exclaimed Tolliver, who had taken only one three pointer all season. “After I noticed that was the plan, I just had in it my mind that if I was going to shoot it, then I needed to make it.”
Tolliver’s attempt was blocked, but she was also fouled. That meant three free throws with 12 seconds left and a chance to tie the game. Without question, she was facing the biggest shots of her career.
“I just stared at the back of the backboard,” she remembered. “I didn’t want to look at my teammates because that would make me nervous. I just stayed focused and I knocked them down.”
Tolliver’s clutch free throws forced overtime, and that’s when Carolina took over for an impressive 72-66 victory at the Colonial Center on Senior Day. She finished with 17 points, while senior Stacy Booker contributed a game-high 18, including the first 5 in the extra session.
“It shows what Stacy means to this program,” commented Assistant Coach Tammy Holder during our postgame interview. “She is just so strong. In the first half, the shots weren’t falling, but she didn’t quit. She did it when we needed it the most.”
It’s not the first time Booker has willed her team to victory. She sparked a strong second half against Kentucky and scored the last nine points in a win over Auburn. On Sunday, all but two of her points came after halftime, ensuring that the postgame ceremony would be a joyous one.
“After Kesha hit those free throws, I honestly wanted to do something,” stated Booker. “I just kind of took it in my hands. I wanted to put the team on my back. I did not want to lose on Senior Day.”
The Gamecocks finished the regular season winning two of their last three games. They will now bring that momentum into the SEC Tournament, which tips off Thursday afternoon in Duluth, Ga., with a rematch against Auburn. It was only two weeks ago that Carolina held off the Tigers for a 70-61 victory at the Colonial Center.
“We were able to step up and make some big-time plays,” recalled Head Coach Susan Walvius. “It’s easier to do it with the home crowd behind you and the energy in the facility. We need to go on the road and do the same thing. They (Auburn) are going to be a different team.”
Ironically, these two teams also met in the first round of last season’s SEC Tournament. After Carolina won the lone regular season meeting, Auburn returned the favor, ultimately keeping the Gamecocks out of the NCAA tournament. The stakes are just as high this time around.
“Losing in the first round last year was devastating,” said Booker. “It’s going to be a different atmosphere this year because I think we have something to prove.”
Besides Booker’s late offensive flurry, another key to beating Auburn during the regular season was shutting down leading scorer DeWanna Bonner. The first-team all-SEC performer was held scoreless on 0-of-8 shooting. But the Gamecocks certainly know what Bonner is capable of – she tallied 25 points and 13 rebounds in last year’s SEC Tournament matchup.
“We keep (that game) in the back of our minds,” said Tolliver. “But we just need to prepare and have our minds ready to play. If we play hard, everything else will work itself out.”
The winner will face top seed Tennessee on Friday, and also boost its chances of getting a bid to the field of 64. Strap on your seatbelts, it’s time for March Madness!
Fast Break Points
Senior Salute: It certainly was an emotional ceremony following Sunday’s overtime win against Mississippi State. Congratulations to the six seniors: Stacy Booker, Lea Fabbri, Shannel Harris, Larissa Kulcsar, Lauren Simms, and Iva Sliskovic. Ladies, you will be missed.
Close to Home: Booker and Harris will be in familiar territory at the SEC Tournament in Duluth, Ga. It’s only a few miles from where they grew up in Lawrenceville, Ga.
Milestone Marker: Sliskovic continues the march towards 1,000 career points, needing just 31 more.
Programming Note: Don’t miss the season finale of the Susan Walvius TV show, Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable Channel 7.
