Dec. 22, 2007
CLEMSON, S.C. – South Carolina used solid defense and efficient offense to post a 64-43 victory over Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum this afternoon. The Gamecocks (9-3) forced 13 first-half turnovers to build a sizable lead at halftime as they recorded their third-straight lop-sided victory over their arch rivals. Freshman Jordan Jones led the offense with16 points, while Demetress Adams picked up a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds to go along with six steals and five blocks.
While offense was at a premium early, as both teams suffered through early turnovers. It was the Gamecocks that snapped out of the early malaise to score 13 of the game’s first 15 points with each starter scoring at least once. Jones opened things with a 3-pointer, and Ilona Burgrova put Carolina up 5-0 with a hook shot. Brionna Dickerson and Adams stuck back offensive rebounds, and Burgrova connected on a lay-up off a high-low feed. Lakesha Tolliver closed the run with a short jumper at the 11:06 mark.
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 15-10 behind a pair of 3-pointers from Kirstyn Wright and a bucket from Whitney Hood. Behind a stalwart defensive effort, the Gamecocks answered with a 9-0 run to push the margin up to 26-10. Again it was Jones the sparked the rally with a deep 3-pointer from the left elbow. Adams followed with a traditional three-point play as she powered up a shot under the basket and sank the ensuing free throw. Jones found Burgrova on a quick strike pass up the right sideline for a lay-up, and Jones capped the spurt with another 3-pointer. Wright ended the surge with a 3-point bucket with 5:18 left to bring the Tigers to 13-26. South Carolina out-scored Clemson 10-4 down the stretch to take a 36-17 lead into halftime.
The second half brought more of the same as the Tigers netted the first bucket of the half, but the Gamecocks scored 11 of the next 16 points to open a 49-24 lead midway through the half. South Carolina out-scored Clemson by just two points in the half, but the halftime margin was enough to work with for the victory.
South Carolina shot 48.1 percent from the field, including 50 percent in the second half, while holding the Tigers to just 23.2 percent for the game. Four Gamecocks reached double figures as Jones netted a game-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Adams, Burgrova and Dickerson each scored 10.
The Gamecocks take a seven-day break for the holidays before returning to the court on Dec. 30 at Oklahoma.
