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Layup spoils USC’s rally
Gamecocks rally from 14 down, but a shot with two seconds to go lifts the Rebels to victory
Written by CHRIS DEARING
Special to The State
Posted on 02.09.09
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As frustrating as South Carolina’s season has been thus far, Sunday’s 66-65 loss to Mississippi might have been the most painful.
After clawing back from a 14-point deficit, the Gamecocks took the lead after two Lakeisha Sutton free throws with 11 seconds remaining, but Elizabeth Robertson made an uncontested layup with two seconds to go to hand USC its fourth loss in a row and fifth at home in the SEC.
“I don’t know what happened or who lost their player underneath the basket, but in that instance, she made a play,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said of the final basket.
South Carolina (9-13, 1-8) looked to have overcome the early 3-point barrage by the Rebels (15-9, 4-5) only to succumb to a defensive lapse in the final seconds. Sutton’s two free throws gave the Gamecocks their only lead of the second half, but they couldn’t hold it.
Shantell Black took the inbound pass, dribbled down the right sideline and nearly got trapped in the corner before she looked over the USC defense and found Robertson wide open on the opposite side of the basket.
Robertson laid it in, and the Gamecocks failed to get off a final shot.
“I’d like to say I drew it up that way, but Shantell just did a great job,” Mississippi coach Renee Ladner said. “It’s a credit to her because she had struggled so badly down the stretch. She kept herself in the game and stayed composed and found the open man like a point guard is supposed to do.”
The Gamecocks took a familiar road in falling behind early only to make a comeback stand in the second half.
In the eight league losses, USC has been outscored by an average of eight points in the first half and was down by four at the break against Mississippi. The Gamecocks haven’t lost a league game by more than 14 points and have been outscored by 13 points total in the second half of SEC games.
“It’s somewhat easier to play when you’re down,” Staley said. “When we play more discipline, I feel we play more cautious. But when we’re down and need to make something happen, we’re best that way.”
The Rebels were 0-for-9 from 3-point range in a 76-67 loss to the Gamecocks 17 days ago, but they nailed 7-of-12 in the first half to tie its season-high for a game. They added three more 3-pointers in the second half, USC had a chance because of its pressure defense.
Mississippi held a 62-55 lead with about three minutes remaining, but South Carolina went on a 10-2 run to set up the final heroics. In that final spurt, the Gamecocks forced six turnovers but were unable to capitalize.
Courtney Newton’s 3-ball could have tied the game with 52 seconds remaining, but USC was whistled for 3-seconds on the play. Lauren Falohun followed that with a miss from about three feet after a steal in the backcourt with 46 seconds remaining.
Sutton, who scored the Gamecocks final six points and finished with 19, got the steal and made the free throws to set the stage for the final play.
“I’m not really sure what happened,” Sutton said of the final seconds. “I know as a team we were aggressive on defense and they just found an open player.”
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