GoGamecocks.com
Women's pregame: USC vs. LSU
Posted on 01.29.09
CommentsWHEN: 7 p.m. | WHERE: Colonial Life Arena.
TV: None | RADIO: WISW 1320 AM
RECORDS: USC 9-10, 1-5 SEC; LSU 10-7, 3-2
COACHES: Dawn Staley (9-10 in first season at USC, 181-90 in nine seasons); Van Chancellor (41-13 in two seasons at LSU, 480-167 in 21 seasons)
TICKETS: (800) 4SC-FANS
THREE THINGS
1. Brionna Dickerson injured her right knee against Vanderbilt on Sunday and will miss the next two weeks for USC. The senior from Heathwood Hall was handling the bulk of the scoring in SEC games by averaging 18.2 points a game, which ranked third in the league. Senior Demetress Adams had a season-ending knee injury in the previous game against Mississippi.
2. The Tigers are first in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 51 points a game. They have held seven of the past nine league opponents to fewer than 50 points. Last year, the Gamecocks were held to 37 points in a 30-point loss. LSU has won 11 in a row in the series.
3. The most likely candidates to pick up USC’s scoring lack are freshmen Lakeisha Sutton and Charenee Stephens. As the Tigers have found with three freshmen in the starting lineup, it’s hard to win in the SEC without and experienced roster.
KEY PLAYER: C.J. Pace, F, USC
The senior responded to the loss of Dickerson by scoring a career-high 19 points. She has started most of the season out of position at forward. Pace has the ability to score but must provide leadership on a team down to nine players — eight of whom are freshmen or sophomores.
STARTING LINEUPS
GAMECOCKS
POS. HT. NAME PPG
F 6-1 Charenee Stephens 3.7
F 5-10 C.J. Pace 6.6
F 6-1 Jewel May 5.1
G 5-4 Samone Kennedy 5.3
G 5-9 Lakeisha Sutton 9.7
TIGERS
POS. HT. NAME PPG
F 6-2 Courtney Jones 6.6
F 6-2 LaSondra Barrett 11.5
C 6-3 Ayana Dunning 6.9
G 5-9 Andrea Kelly 4.6
G 5-10 Allison Hightower 14.1
BOTTOM LINE:
This is next year for the Gamecocks. They are down to nine healthy players and one senior in Pace. This isn’t the same LSU squad that reached the Final Four last year but the Gamecocks will be hard-pressed to overcome the loss of its two leaders.
— Chris Dearing
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