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Women's basketball: Gamecocks fall in finale

Staley sees progress, better days ahead as a regular season of turmoil and injuries comes to an end

women's basketball final game 2009 season

South Carolina's Lakeisha Sutton goes up for two around Kentucky's Arriani Franklin. South Carolina fell 70-53 to Kentucky in women's basketball Sunday during the final home game of the season at the Colonial Life Arena.

Renee Ittner-McManus /rimphotography.com

Written by CHRIS DEARING

Special to The State
Posted on 03.02.09
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South Carolina coach Dawn Staley grabbed the Colonial Life Arena microphone after the Gamecocks closed the regular season with a disappointing 70-53 loss to Kentucky and addressed the fans, something out of the ordinary for the first-year USC coach.

But the message was clear and simple.

“This year we didn’t get the results we wanted, but thanks to our three seniors, the foundation is there,” Staley said. “I promise you; next year will be a different story. Hang in there with us, and we’re going to fill this place up.”

When asked if that was something planned or something she did on the spur of the moment, Staley said she wanted fans to know she appreciated the support through a difficult season.

“After such a tough season, the one thing we could count on was the people that came out and supported us,” she said. “I just wanted to thank them and help me thank the seniors for what they have given to this program. I wanted our seniors to go out knowing that people really appreciate their contributions to our program.”

Staley had little time to reflect on the 10-17 finish (2-12 in the SEC), but given the hand the Gamecocks were dealt, she was never displeased with the effort and assertiveness her team showed.

C.J. Pace, who finished with a team-high 14 points, was the only senior in uniform Sunday. Demetress Adams and Brionna Dickerson went down with knee injuries in back-to-back, late-January games. That left a roster of nine players, including eight sophomores or freshmen.

“We progressed as a basketball team in intangible areas,” Staley said. “Our players always tried; I just think they needed more experience playing at this level. We fought and got better, and that’s all I could ask for.”

Being short-handed turned out to be a key factor down the stretch. Despite being close in each of the past three games, the Gamecocks were outscored by 12, 16 and 19 during the second half of each of those games.

South Carolina held a two-point lead against the Wildcats (15-15, 5-9), but behind the shooting of Amani Franklin, Kentucky went on a 19-4 run early in the second half and the lead never dipped below 10 points the rest of the way.

Franklin scored 21 of her game-high 28 points in the second half as Kentucky shot 56 percent from the floor and outscored USC 43-24 in the final 20 minutes.

“We didn’t have a whole lot of depth,” Staley said. “So we had some people playing more minutes than maybe they should have. We got all we could out of this group of players, it’s just that we need some more bodies.”

Freshman Lakeisha Sutton was emotional during the pregame senior day activities and wanted the three seniors to know what they meant to such a young group.

“They are the epitome of dedication, determination and the element of drive,” she said. “They are going to be successful, so as a young team, we’re going to follow them.

South Carolina will be the No. 11 seed and face Mississippi State in the opening round of the SEC tournament on Thursday at 10 p.m. in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Bulldogs knocked off USC 58-41 this past Thursday, but Staley said the Gamecocks would go in with nothing to lose.

“We played a good thirty minutes up there before things fell apart,” Staley said. “We’re the underdog, but I think we could surprise a team or two.”

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