March 24, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. – South Carolina dropped a heartbreaking 72-69 decision at North Carolina State in the second round of the WNIT. The Gamecocks (16-16) led for all but 2:45, but it was a six-point Wolfpack spurt in a four-second span late in the game that was South Carolina’s undoing. The Wolfpack (19-12) built their comeback on the glass, out-rebounding the Gamecocks 27-15 in the second half, including 16 offensive boards. Freshman Jordan Jones was the leading scorer for the Gamecocks, pouring in 27 points on 7-of-9 from 3-point range.
The Gamecocks took a 37-23 lead into halftime thanks to a defensive effort that held the Wolfpack to just 27.6 percent shooting. After N.C. State took a 9-8 on a short jumper from Nikitta Gartrell with 15:11 on the clock, the Gamecocks rolled off an 18-3 run over the next eight minutes that featured three of Jones’ five 3-pointers in the half. As Jones was hitting from outside, the interior opened up, and Ilona Burgrova, Jewel May and Lakesha Tolliver each added points to the surge. The Wolfpack ended got a 3-pointer from Tia Bell, N.C. State’s only triple of the half, to pull within 11 points at 26-15, but the Gamecocks continued to stretch their lead.
The tide turned in the second half as the Wolfpack came out the aggressors and held the Gamecocks scoreless over the first five minutes of the half. By that point, the 14-point lead had eroded to five points as Shayla Fields netted five points, including a 3-pointer from the right sideline to pull the Wolfpack within 32-37. The Gamecocks their way back to a 13-point lead with a 10-2 run on the back of the frontcourt players. Demetress Adams hit two free throws and a layup to push the lead to 41-32 with 14:36 left to play. Burgrova added a hook shot, and Tolliver hit a pair of free throws and a layup from the right block to cap the run.
With the home fans growing restless, N.C. State had another surge, using second chance points to whittle the lead back down to five at 43-48 on a layup from Amber White after the Wolfpack broke the Gamecocks’ press. Jones answered with another 3-pointer, and Dickerson’s quick-hit layup made it a 10-point margin once again. Field drained a 3-pointer from the left baseline, and Lucy Ellison’s layup from the left block pulled N.C. State back within five. After a Gamecock miss on the other end, the Wolfpack grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds before Sharnise Beal made it a three-point game with a layup underneath.
Again it was Jones that went back to work for the Gamecocks, hitting a layup, two free throws and a 3-pointer. With the Gamecocks’ lead hovering around four points for the next two minutes, neither team could wrest control of the outing. Khadijah Whittington got the Wolfpack to within two on a pair of free throws with 3:42 left to play. Burgrova’s layup pushed the lead back to four with 3:31 on the clock.
After both teams missed on their next possessions, the Wolfpack made its decisive move following a 30-second time out with 2:31 to go. Nikitta Gartrell buried a 3-pointer from the right sideline to make it a 63-64 game. Whittington stole the Gamecocks’ ensuing inbound pass right under the basket, hit a layup and was fouled. Converting the free throw, the Wolfpack to the lead scoring six points in a seven-second span.
The Gamecocks fought to reclaim the game, and Dickerson’s 3-pointer with two seconds left had them within a possession. The Wolfpack was able to sink enough free throws to hold on to the win.
Burgrova joined Jones in double digits as she netted 12 points. Adams was the leading rebounder with eight boards. Whittington ended the game with a double-double, 11 points and 15 rebounds, while Fields and Gartrell added 16 and 14 points, respectively.
