Nov. 25, 2007
MIAMI – Senior Lakesha Tolliver and freshman Jordan Jones posted career-high points to guide South Carolina to an 82-66 victory over Florida International in the consolation game of the FIU Thanksgiving Classic this afternoon at Pharmed Arena. Tolliver’s 21 points, which came on 9-of-15 shooting in just 24 minutes, held the Gamecocks (4-2) steady during an up-and-down game that saw the teams whistled for 52 fouls and shoot 70 free throws. Jones took on point guard responsibilities during stretches of the game and still poured in a career-best 18 points as the Gamecocks hit 50.9 percent from the field.
After FIU opened a three-point lead early in the game, South Carolina took control with a 16-3 run that saw defensive pressure force four turnovers and a well-balanced offense that featured five different scorers. C.J. Pace got things started with a driving lay-up, and Jones put the Gamecocks on top with a 3-pointer. Carolina’s next four baskets came via lay-up as the inside opened up to both interior players and dribble penetration.
Trailing by 10 at the 14:10 mark, the Golden Panthers mounted a comeback on the back of Fanni Hutlasssa’s five points. The 9-2 run was capped by Marquita Adley’s lay-up, which brought FIU within three at 19-16 with 12:08 on the clock. Another rash of turnovers stunted the surge, however, and the Gamecocks capitalized at the free throw line and back-to-back threes from Ebony Jones and Jordan Jones, stretching the lead back to 13 less than three minutes later.
The Golden Panthers had yet another run in them, however, thanks to a spate of six fouls called against the Gamecocks over a four-minute span. FIU hit nine of the resulting free throws and added 3-pointers from Iva Ciglar and LaQuetta Ferguson to narrow the gap to 34-31 with just under five minutes left in the half. Jordan Jones put together five straight points to push the lead back to eight points at the break.
South Carolina pushed its lead to a game-high 20 points with a 20-8 run to kick off the second half. Tolliver and Pace combined for the first 10 points of the period, Jordan Jones converted a traditional three-point play, and Ebony Jones capped the surge with a 3-pointer. But, a four-minute scoring drought allowed the Golden Panthers to again bring the lead down to single digits as Ferguson began to scorch the nets, scoring back-to-back 3-pointers and adding four free throws to pull FIU within eight points with 8:57 on the clock. Ebony stemmed the tide for the Gamecocks with her third 3-pointer of the game, and the Golden Panthers would get no closer as the Gamecocks sank free throws down the stretch.
Ferguson led all scorers with 32 points, including four 3-pointers and 12 free throws. Demetress Adams joined Tolliver and Jordan Jones, who was named to the All-Tournament team, in double figures with 11 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from the field. Senior Ilona Burgrova led the way on the glass with 11 rebounds and handed out a team-best four assists.
The Gamecocks return to Columbia for a three-game homestand at the Colonial Center, beginning on Sat., Dec. 1, against UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m.
