Nov. 23, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina freshman center Kelsey Bone (Houston, Texas/Dulles) was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced today. Bone helped the Gamecocks to a 2-1 record in the first week of her collegiate career scoring 21.3 points per game to go with 11.0 rebounds per outing.

Bone kicked off her collegiate career with a double-double (22 pts/11 rebs) at Charlotte, the first Gamecock freshman to open with a double-double since Demetress Adams accomplished the feat against High Point on Nov. 18, 2005 (11 pts/12 reb). Three nights later at Clemson, Bone became the first Gamecock freshman to post consecutive double-doubles in her first two games as she poured in 32 points and snagged 14 rebounds in the double-overtime loss to the Tigers. Her 32 points were the third-most by a Gamecock freshman in program history, and her 14 rebounds matched the second-most by a first-year Gamecock. Bone narrowly missed her third-straight double-double with 10 points and eight boards in the home opener against Penn State on Sunday.

The Gamecocks play their next three games at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., beginning with a Thanksgiving day tilt against No. 20/16 Oklahoma. South Carolina takes on No. 5/6 Notre Dame on Fri., Nov. 27, and closes the tournament against San Diego State on Sat., Nov. 28. All three games can be watched on the internet via FOX College Sports Broadband Network. See GamecocksOnline.com for the link.

South Carolina returns to Colonia Life Arena for a three-game home stand before the holidays, starting on Dec. 2, for an 11 a.m. game against High Point.