Dec. 28, 2008
Post-Game Press Conference 
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COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina held No. 1 Connecticut to its lowest point total of the season but could not match the Huskies’ offensive output in a 77-48 loss this afternoon at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks (6-5) battled on the glass, but could not overcome UConn’s 56.5 percent field goal shooting, as 56 of the Huskies’ 77 points came in the paint, including 28 points off turnovers.
The Gamecocks got off to a solid start as sophomore Samone Kennedy drained her first two shots of the game for a 4-0 lead. The Huskies pushed back with Tina Charles hitting a layup from the left block and Maya Moore sinking a 15-foot jumper. After Moore’s steal and layup put UConn on top, freshman LaKeisha Sutton answered with a 3-pointer on the left baseline for another Gamecock lead 7-6 just four minutes into the contest.
From that point, however, Connecticut took advantage of three Gamecock turnovers to go on a 12-0 run, capped by Moore’s 3-pointer from the left sideline. Lauren Falohun stopped the spurt with a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, but the Huskies were undeterred, going on a 14-4 surge to take a commanding 32-14 lead with 4:46 left to play in the first half. A jump shot from Jewel May and a Kennedy 3-pointer from the right wing narrowed the Gamecock deficit to 13 with just under two minutes in the period before a 5-0 surge took it back to 18 points at 37-19 heading into the locker room for halftime.
The Connecticut lead hovered around 20 points through the first 13 minutes of the second half as the teams seemed to trade baskets early in the period. After May hit a free throw to bring the Gamecocks back within 18 points at 62-44, UConn answered with another run, this one going 11 points and spanning three minutes for a 73-44 margin with 3:51 left to play.
The Huskies’ 56.5 percent accuracy was the best by a Gamecocks opponent this season, while UConn became just the fourth team this season to score 70 points or more against Carolina. The Gamecocks were nearly even on the glass, trailing their opponent just 30-33. Charles led all scorers and rebounders with 21 points and 14 boards. Three other Huskies reached double-figure points.
For the Gamecocks, Sutton and Kennedy tied for team-high honors, scoring 11 points each. Demetress Adams and May tied for team-high rebounding honors, grabbing five each.
South Carolina returns to Colonial Life Arena on Tue., Dec. 30, for its final home non-conference game of the season. Tipoff against Jacksonville is set for 3 p.m.
