GoGamecocks.com
Women's pregame: USC vs. Vanderbilt
Posted on 01.25.09
CommentsWHEN: 3 p.m.
WHERE: Colonial Life Arena.
TV: None
RADIO: WISW 1320 AM
RECORDS: USC 9-9, 1-4 | VANDERBILT 14-5, 3-1
COACHES: Dawn Staley (8-9 in first season at USC, 181-89 in nine seasons); Melanie Balcomb (161-57 in seven seasons at Vanderbilt, 323-161 in 16 seasons)
TICKETS: (800) 4SC-FANS
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
1. The season-ending knee injury to Demetress Adams causes an already thin USC frontcourt to become that much more undersized. The Gamecocks do not have a player taller than 6-foot-1, and Adams’ loss means only three post players have significant minutes all season. Charenee Stephens had 11 points and 12 rebounds in the victory against over Mississippi on Thursday.
2. Brionna Dickerson had a career-high 31 points with five 3-pointers to continue her hot streak. But it was the play off the bench that allowed USC to win its first SEC game of the year. Lakeisha Sutton, Courtney Newton and Stephens all scored in double figures as the bench contributed 41 points in the absence of Adams. Other than Dickerson’s 31 points, the starters added four points.
3. Vanderbilt looked to be the class of the SEC after knocking off Tennessee by 16. But the Commodores faltered in a loss at Georgia on Thursday. The Bulldogs held leading scorer Christina Wirth to three points and without a field goal until the final seconds. The Commodores are 4-4 on the road and have lost back-to-back games once this season.
KEY PLAYER: Courtney Newton, G, USC
Even though the Gamecocks need help in the frontcourt, Newton played her best game of the season against Mississippi. She had season highs of 10 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes. She is averaging nine minutes and has played in 12 games but she has a wealth of experience from playing out of position at point guard last year.
STARTING LINEUPS
GAMECOCKS
POS. HT. NAME PPG
| F | 6-1 | Charenee Stephens | 3.9 |
| F | 5-10 | C.J. Pace | 5.8 |
| F | 6-1 | Jewel May | 5.1 |
| G | 5-4 | Samone Kennedy | 5.3 |
| G | 5-9 | Brionna Dickerson | 13.9 |
POS. HT. NAME PPG
| F | 6-3 Hannah Tuomi | 12.6 |
| G/F | 6-1 Christina Wirth | 14.1 |
| G | 5-9 Jennifer Risper | 7.6 |
| G | 5-8 Jessica Mooney | 9.0 |
| G | 5-9 Merideth Marsh | 8.8 |
If the Gamecocks use the same effort they displayed against Mississippi, they will give Vanderbilt all it can handle. But if they react poorly to the loss of Adams, it could be a long afternoon.
— Chris Dearing
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