Feb. 24, 2008
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – South Carolina battled to a 69-65 victory over Florida at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center this afternoon. The Gamecocks (14-13, 3-9 SEC) used aggressive defense and solid free throw shooting down the stretch to pick up their first road SEC win of the season. The Gators (16-11, 5-7 SEC) struggled from the free-throw line but were still in position to come back late in the game. Demetress Adams helped seal the victory with a critical offensive rebound and two free throws in the final 10 seconds and finished just short of her ninth double-double of the season with nine points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Samone Kennedy did collect a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.
For the first time since SEC play began, the Gamecocks took a lead into halftime, but it took a big rally to get there. After falling behind 16-7, South Carolina put together an 8-0 run, beginning with a Jewel May free throw. Senior Ebony Jones started the long-range shooting barrage that would dominate the last part of the half with a 3-pointer from the right sideline, narrowing the game to 16-11. After taking a charge on the Gators’ next possession, the Gamecocks powered up the floor for a Samone Kennedy layup off Jordan Jones’ dribble penetration. On the next offensive possession, Kennedy took the ball the length of the floor herself for another layup to pull the Gamecocks within one with 4:58 left on the clock.
The Gators pushed their lead back up to four at 22-18 on a put back by Kim Critton. This time it was Jordan Jones who delivered from outside the arc, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers, the last one tying the game at 24-24 with 2:09 left in the period. The teams traded baskets until the final 30 seconds when Jordan Jones put South Carolina on top for the first time with her third 3-pointer of the half with 29 seconds left. After Florida missed a pair of free throws on the other end, Brionna Dickerson made it a 31-27 game with a pull up jumper just before the break.
South Carolina pushed its lead up to 10, scoring the first six points of the half before Florida’s Sha Brooks hit a pair of free throws to end the quick spurt. The lead got up to 12 on Kennedy’s fast break layup, but the Gators narrowed it back to six at 50-56, taking advantage of both Demestress Adams and Ilona Burgrova going to the bench with four fouls each. Free throws helped Florida keep pace when shots wouldn’t fall, and Depree Bowden capped the run with a driving layup with 8:17 on the clock.
The teams traded five-point surges, beginning with the Gamecocks’ run to go up 61-50 with 6:28 in the game. Florida came right back with back-to-back buckets, including a 3-pointer from Bowden to bring the Gators back within six just a minute later. Adams’ layup made it a 63-55 game, but Brooks hit another 3-pointer from the right baseline to pull Florida within five. Back-to-back turnovers led to a pair of Gator layups and the Gamecocks’ lead was down to 63-62 with 2:19 left to play.
After a pair of free throws from Dickerson, the Gators twice had a chance to back within one, but the Gamecock defense stepped up both times. On Burgrova’s fifth foul, Dotson hit just one of two free throws for a 65-63 Gamecock lead. The Gators looked to make a defensive stand on Carolina’s next possession, but saw Adams pull down her 11th rebound of the game on Dickerson’s missed jump shot. With 10.3 on the clock, the junior forward hit both free throws. Brooks drove for a layup on the other end, and the Gators sent Kennedy to the line with 3.1 seconds left. The freshman rattled the first one home and sent the second one through smoothly to seal the Gamecocks’ first road SEC win of the season.
Jordan Jones led the Gamecocks with 16 points, including five 3-pointers. South Carolina shot 43.3 percent from the field, including 46.7 percent from 3-point range.
The Gamecocks return to the Colonial Center for their final home game of the season, taking on Georgia on Thu., Feb. 28, at 7 p.m.
