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Nov. 19, 2007

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Last Time Out
South Carolina battled to a 66-54 victory over Buffalo Saturday afternoon at the Colonial Center. Four players scored in double figures, including freshman Courtney Newton, who poured in a game-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Her three 3-pointers matched that of fellow freshman Jordan Jones as the Gamecocks hit eight from behind the arc. South Carolina also benefited from a solid inside game, outscoring the Bulls 28-16 in the paint and tallying 14 second-chance points.

Series Notes
The Gamecocks lead the series 3-2, although Penn State has won the last two outings. The Nittany Lions posted a 68-57 victory over South Carolina last season in State College and won a 77-67 decision on their home floor in the 2002-03 season. The teams have played just once in Columbia with the Gamecocks coming out on top 66-63 on Jan. 18, 1983.

Scouting the Nittany Lions
Penn State is 3-1 on the season following last week’s narrow 68-72 loss at Xavier. The Nittany Lions have a youthful roster with seven players in either their first or second years at the school. But, the starting lineup features a fifth-year senior and three juniors. Four of the five starters average double-figure points, led by sophomore Tara Grant’s 17 ppg. Senior Kamela Gissendanner and junior Rashida Mark lead the way on the glass with 6.5 rpg apiece. As a team, the Nittany Lions score 77 ppg on 44 percent field goal shooting, including 45.7 percent from 3-point range. Opponents have scored 72.8 ppg on 38.8 percent shooting, including 24.3 percent from behind the arc. Head coach Coquese Washington is in her first season as a collegiate head coach.

Ticket Information
Adults are admitted for $7. Youth under the age of 18 are admitted for $3. Season tickets are $40. For more information or to order tickets, contact the South Carolina Ticket Office toll free at 800-4SC-FANS or locally at 803-777-4274. Tickets can also be ordered via the athletics web siteGamecocksOnline.com.

Suddenly Susan
Head coach Susan Walvius enters her 11th season as the Gamecocks’ mentor with a 152-144 record. She has led South Carolina to two NCAA Tournaments and two WNITs, including an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2001-02. Her players have also excelled in the classroom. In 2006-07, 10 Gamecocks appeared on the SEC Winter Sports Academic Honor Roll. In the last four years, South Carolina has placed more student-athletes on that list than any other school.

A South Carolina Win Would …

  • Put the Gamecocks at 4-0 to open the season for the first time since 2002-03 when they won their first eight games and finished the season in the NCAA Tournament
  • Give the Gamecocks a four-game win streak for the first time since winning five straight from Dec. 20, 2006 to Jan. 1, 2007
  • Improve the Gamecocks’ record against Big Ten teams to 17-9
  • Improve Susan Walvius’ record to 104-47 in regular-season games played against non-conference opponents
  • Improve Susan Walvius’ record to 70-11 in regular-season non-conference home games

On a Roll
Even with the difficult schedule that head coach Susan Walvius put together for her 2006-07 team, the Gamecocks have opened the season 3-0 for the first time since 2002-03. That group kicked off the season with eight straight wins and closed the campaign in the NCAA Tournament. South Carolina’s current three-game win streak is its longest since a five-game stretch of victories from Dec. 20, 2006 to Jan. 1, 2007.

More Balance
After finishing the 2006-07 season without a single player averaging double-figure points, four Gamecocks are at that benchmark this season. Brionna Dickerson’s 17 ppg leads the way with Demetress Adams just behind at 15.3 ppg. Freshman Jordan Jones is third on the team at 11.7 ppg, and senior Lakesha Tolliver rounds out the group with 10.3 ppg.

Old Number, New Beginning
After a modest beginning to her career wearing No. 32, junior Brionna Dickerson went back to the No. 23 jersey that saw her score 3,400 points in high school. Proof that “A Change Would Do You Good,” as Sheryl Crow has sung, Dickerson’s offense has exploded this season. Averaging 1.8 points and 6.1 points during her freshman and sophomore campaigns, respectively, Dickerson paces the Gamecocks with 17 ppg early this season. She opened with a career-best 17 points against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 6 then poured in 27 to guide the Gamecocks past Virginia on Nov. 15. Hitting just nine 3-pointers all of last season, she was 5-of-7 from long range against Virginia, including a perfect 5-of-5 in the first half.

Fresh Frosh
With six true freshmen on the roster this season, rookie guard Jordan Jones set the tone early. Behind 15 points in the first 13 minutes against Saint Francis, including four 3-pointers, Jones was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the period ending Nov. 11. Two other youngsters are having an immediate impact on the team. Courtney Newton leads the club with 14 assists, while Samone Kennedy is third on the team in assists (7) and steals (6).

Ms. Clutch
When the game is on the line, toss out the percentages and get the ball to Lakesha Tolliver. The senior began her reputation last season when, despite a 63.6 free throw shooting percentage, she drained three free throws with eight seconds left to tie Mississippi State, giving the Gamecocks the chance to pick up the overtime win. This season, on Nov. 15 against Virginia, South Carolina had one shot to win the game. Tolliver, who was 3-of-8 in the game and 6-of-17 on the season, drilled a 14-foot jumper with 1.3 seconds left to cap off a dramatic 25-7 run over the final 6:46 of the contest.

Double Double-Double
In the season opener against Saint Francis (Pa.), a pair of Gamecocks posted double-doubles for the second time in two seasons. Forwards Lakesha Tolliver and Demetress Adams accomplished the feat against the Red Flash, while Melanie Johnson and Ilona Burgrova turned the trick at Wilmington on Dec. 30, 2006. Prior to last season’s effort, the last Gamecock duo to record double-doubles was Iva Sliskovic and Cristina Ciocan against Southern Utah on Dec. 5, 2003.

High Fliers
With 93 points against Saint Francis (Pa.) in the season opener, the Gamecocks put up their highest offensive output since hanging 95 on Alabama on Jan. 14, 2007. South Carolina also won that game by 60 points, the largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent in the program’s history.

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