Jan. 27, 2008
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COLUMBIA – Three times South Carolina watched game-winning or tying shots fall short in a 60-57 loss to Florida this afternoon at the Colonial Center. After rallying back from a 17-point deficit early in the second half, the Gamecocks (11-9, 0-5 SEC) had two looks to tie or go ahead with 10 seconds left, then saw Jordan Jones’ potentially game-tying 3-pointer sail through the net but only just after time had expired. It was an 18-4 first-half surge that put the Gators (14-6, 3-2 SEC) up big early only to watch the Gamecocks, for the third-straight game, claw back to make it a nail-biter down the stretch.
For Florida, Sharielle Smith did the damage early, scoring seven straight points in a 90-second span during the early 18-4 surge. The Gamecocks were again plagued by 14 first-half turnovers, which led to 16 Florida points. For the first time during the skein, poor shooting compounded South Carolina’s problems as the Gamecocks hit just 21.9 percent from the field in the first period, and Florida took a 33-20 lead into the break.
The second half got off to an inauspicious beginning as Depree Bowden scored four straight points to open the half and extend the Gators’ margin to 17 at the 17:32 mark. But, the Gamecocks got the inside-out game working and reeled off 13 straight points to cut the deficit to four. Brionna Dickerson got the spurt started with a 3-pointer on the right wing, and Ilona Burgrova hit back-to-back driving layups to pull Carolina within 10 at 27-37. The pounding inside opened up the perimeter for Ebony Jones, who hit her first of three second-half 3-pointers, and Jordan Jones drilled a deep three from the right wing for a 33-37 game with 14:20 left.
South Carolina’s shooting had improved, but the Gators’ had not cooled off, and Florida pushed its lead back to nine as Marshae Dotson scored three straight layups, with the last two coming off Carolina turnovers. Burgrova stopped the bleeding with a layup off a well-designed inbound play, and Dickerson hit a pair of free throws to pull within five at 45-50 with 9:21 remaining. Dotson answered by converting a traditional three-point play, and, after a two-minute scoring drought by both teams, Jordan Jones’ 3-pointer from the right wing started a seven-point run for the Gamecocks. Jewel May drove hard to the basket for a layup, and Dickerson got Carolina to 52-53 on a layup from the right side of the lane with 4:25 remaining.
The teams traded punches over the next three minutes with Florida building its lead back to five points behind rebounding and free throws. With just under a minute remaining, Ebony Jones buried a 3-pointer from the right sideline for a one-possession game. Jasmine Payne, who had come in when Burgrova joined Demetress Adams on the bench with five fouls apiece, forced Jennifer Mossor to turn the ball over with 35 seconds left, giving the Gamecocks another opportunity to tie or take the lead.
Following a timeout, South Carolina’s last of the game, Ebony Jones’ 3-pointer from the right sideline hit the rim. She chased down her rebound and put up a 10-foot jumper, which rimmed out into the hands of Dotson. The Gators’ forward missed the first free throw but sank the second, leaving the Gamecocks with a three-point deficit and eight seconds to play. Aggressive defense from Florida forced Dickerson to drive up the right sideline and inside the 3-point line before she got a clear look for a teammate. She kicked the ball back to Jordan Jones two steps behind the 3-point line, but she could not get off the shot, which sailed through the basketball, in time.
Four Gamecocks reached double figures with Burgrova and Dickerson leading the way with 12 apiece. Ebony and Jordan Jones each scored 11. Florida’s Smith led all scorers with 18 points, 17 of which came in the first half.
South Carolina goes on the road for its next game, traveling to No. 9 LSU for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Thu., Jan. 31.
