Nov. 11, 2012

South Carolina Game Notes

Game Information

Date: Monday, November 12, 2012
Time: 8 p.m. (ET)
Location: Ruston, La.
Arena: Thomas Assembly Center (8,098)
TV: None
Radio: WISW 1320 AM (Brad Muller); GamecocksOnline.com
Live Stats:
LA Tech Series: LA Tech leads 3-1; In Ruston: LA Tech leads 2-0; In Columbia: LA Tech leads 1-0; At Neutral Site: SC leads 1-0

Notes

Fast Break

• South Carolina was one of nine SEC teams to win its season opener this weekend.
• The Gamecocks out-rebounded Elon 53-33 Friday night, the third-highest rebounding margin of the Dawn Staley era.

A South Carolina Win Would…

• Bring head coach Dawn Staley’s regular-season non-conference road record to an even 7-7.
• Make it the third time Staley won her first road game of the season since taking the reins at South Carolina for the 2008-09 season.

By the Numbers
21 Rebounds collected by sophomore Elem Ibiam (11) and freshman Asia Dozier (10) against Elon, the first time two Gamecocks have pulled down double-figure boards since March 4, 2010
33 Points that separated South Carolina from Elon in the home opener, the third-largest margin of victory in the Dawn Staley era and the team’s fifth margin of victory to exceed 30 points since the start of the 2011-12 season
77 Points scored by the Gamecocks in the season opener against Elon, just the 23rd game of the Staley era in which they exceeded 70 points, during which the program is 20-3

Louisiana Tech Series Notes
The Lady Techsters lead the series 3-1 over the Gamecocks, but the two programs have not met since the 1982-83 season. South Carolina won the first game of the series, a 77-69 decision in the consolation game of the AIAW National Tournament in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The Gamecocks were ranked fourth in the nation at the time and finished third in the event with the victory. The two teams met once in each of the next three seasons, culminating in LA Tech’s 94-54 victory on Jan. 15, 1983 in Ruston, La.

Scouting the Lady Techsters
After losing five seniors, Louisiana Tech has a young team this season, but its returners are setting a good pace for the newcomers. Junior center Tavasha Anderson opened the season with a 15-point outing in the Lady Techsters’ 66-59 loss at Tulane Friday night, hitting 4-of-6 from the field and all seven of her free-throw attempts. Sophomore forward Whitney Frazier, who earned WAC All-Freshman and All-Defensive team honors last season, added 10 points, eight rebounds and five steals to the season-opening effort in New Orleans. After two seasons at Temple, senior Brittany Lewis kicked off her LA Tech career with 12 points and eight boards, shooting 6-of-9 from the field.

Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon is in her fourth full season after taking over as interim head coach in February 2009. She has a career head coaching record of 73-35, all amassed at LA Tech. She has led her Lady Techsters to a pair of WAC regular-season titles (2009, 2011) and the conference tournament crown in 2010.

Eclipsing Elon
The Gamecocks jumped out quickly in their season opener Friday night and kept the pressure on in a 77-44 win over Elon at Colonial Life Arena. Shooting 56.7 percent in the first half and forcing 22 turnovers in the game, South Carolina asserted itself on both sides of the ball early. Seniors Ashley Bruner (15) and Ieasia Walker (13) led the offense, while sophomore Elem Ibiam (11) and freshman Asia Dozer (11) set the pace on the glass. The Gamecocks went into the post early and often in the game, scoring 52 of their 77 points in the paint. It was the third season-opening win in head coach Dawn Staley’s tenure.

Old Home Week
South Carolina’s first two games have included opponents the program has not played in decades, but the head coaches stalking the sidelines of both contests are much more familiar than that. As the players that laid the foundation of professional women’s basketball in the United States have moved into the coaching ranks, it has come much more common for South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley to face off with former teammates and foes. After opening the season against Elon’s Charlotte Smith, a teammate of at the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting for six seasons, Staley squares off tonight against Teresa Weatherspoon, whose WNBA career overlapped Staley’s for 10 seasons. In USA Basketball terms, Weatherspoon passed the point guard mantle to Staley after playing in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, with Staley leading the United States to three straight gold medals in the next three games (1996, 2000, 2004).

Road Warriors
The Gamecocks are 188-231 (.449) all-time in games on enemy territory, including a 13-26 mark under head coach Dawn Staley. Those numbers improve when factoring in just non-conference outings. Since 1983-84 when South Carolina first joined a conference for women’s basketball, the Gamecocks are 70-63 (.526) in regular-season non-conference outings. Staley’s four seasons account for a 6-7 in that subset of games.

Noting November
South Carolina is 75-39 (.658) all-time in games played in November. Those totals include a 38-10 record (.792) at home and a 21-17 mark (.553) on the road. Head coach Dawn Staley accounts for a 15-10 record (.600) in the first month of the season.