The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 18, 1980, Page Page 9, Image 9
ILady Gamecoi
USC humbl<
By Michelle Burchette
Gamecock Staff Writer
Somenno fnrunt tn ronnin^ ^
?.v > vuiiiiu me juciuy uamecocKS
Tuesday night that short guards don't usually
dominate a basketball game in which the average
height of the women on the court is nearly 6-0.
Thriving on the performances of four quick guards,
Carolina overcame a 14 point first half deficit to
defeat a tall N.C. State squad 78-67 in Raleigh.
Freshman guard Evelyn Johnson scored the first
basket of the game immediately following the
opening tipoff, but the seventh ranked Wolfpack ran
off 14 unanswered noints to talrn n mo 1 1
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WITH NEARLY eight minutes left in the first half,
USC guards Cheryl Autry and Rita Johnson sparked
a Gamecock rally which turned the tables on State
and led to a 34-30 Carolina lead at halftime.
Autry connected on several key outside shots in the
second half. The 5-6 sophomore contributed 16 points
before fouling out with seven minutes remaining.
Gamecock coach Pam Parsons attributed Autry's
improved game to an increased understanding of
jrarsons coacning philosophy. "Cheryl seems to be
getting the idea of what Coach Parsons wants accomplished.
When she understands that she's a great
player," Parsons said.
"She has a lot of physical tools, but the mental
game is something that has to be worked at, and you
can't rest on your laurels," she added.
EVELYN JOHNSON was another key guard in the
winning effort. The 5-10 freshman also contributed 16
points to tie Autry as USC high scorer in the game.
sne also grabbed a game high 12 rebounds.
Despite missing several of her outside shots early
in the first half, Johnson came back to lead the team
when four of her teammates fouled out.
"We had three guards in, and someone had to take
control, so I just did," Johnson said. "I wasn't scared
when our starters began fouling out because I have a
lot of confidence in our bench," she added.
Rita Johnson, another guard, used her speed and
quicKness to steal the ball seven times before
returning to the bench with five fouls.
Wolfpack head coach Kay Yow praised the ability
of Johnson and her teammates to consistently stop
the reverse dribble of N.C. State point guard Angie
Armstrong.
"I was really impressed with their defense. They <
made the play from behind, and then if you faked the i
reverse dribble they had you in a charge," Yow said.
"They did that every time we reverse dribbled." *
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Rita Johnson goes up strong for a rebound du\
Carolina win. Johnson has been a key contributor
ranked Gdmdcocks.
cks win 78-67
esN.C. State
PARSONS WAS very pleased with the overall play
of the guards especially when her key players began
to foul out.
"We have four guards who can handle it, and we
don't lose anything by substituting. Every one of
them has a different quality. I don't feel like we have
two starting guards. I feel we have four because I do
interchange them," Parsons said. "With the fouling
oil I 1?4
uui an i lusi, wtrre some options.'
Forward Suzanne Woolston, who has gained a
starting position with Carolina this year, was
challenged by the Wolfpack's leading scorer Trudi
Lacey. Although I^acey was the leading scorer in the
game with 18 points, she failed to score while
Woolston guarded her.
"The guards gave us some good perimeter shooting
and opened up the inside," Woolston said. "The key,
though, was that all five players on the court for us
contributed. We've usually either had the inside
game going well and the outside game not going so
well or vice versa, but this time it was both working
together for the win."
PARSONS AGREED with Woolston that team
coordination brought the win for Carolina. "One thing
I've maintained about this group is if they will remain
in a total team effort they can win a lot of ball
games," she said.
When Autry, Woolston, Rita Johnson and Cynthia
Jacobs fouled out in a span of less than three minutes,
Parsons was forced to rely on the depth of her bench.
State rapidly ate away a 12 point Carolina lead and
cut the margin to four, but the Lady Gamecocks
regained their composure to save the victory.
"You can't expect any more out of a team than for
41 I - * ~~
me uencn 10 piay that well," Parsons said. "They
played certain parts of the game better than the
starting five. That'll happen when you have a strong
bench or a bench that is really studying the game."
Parsons added that while the game was not much
faster paced than most, it was more strenuous for
both teams. "There was more energy put out on that
court than I've seen in a long time, and both teams
were very tired," she said. "Both teams put out a lot
Hpfonciimlti nff/M.r.: ' - - '
v^.v.ionvijr unu uucuaivciy uecause we were two
pretty well matched teams."
The victory over N.C. State was a very important
one for the Lady Gamecocks who are currently
ranked 11th in the nation and boast an 11-2 record,
rhe women will meet East Tennessee at 6 p.m.
Saturday night in the coliseum.
BB Rita Job.
I''5:' ' I By Willie T. Smith III
7 j and Tammy Kilpatrick
' Gamecock Staff Writers
i Every team needs a player who
can come up with a spectacular
play on defense to ignite the team
to victory. Rita Johnson is that
} player for the Lady Gamecocks.
i "I'm a more defensivelynriontoH
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playing is much better. I have a lot
more faith in myself now."
Johnson has been blessed with
times in the past it has been more
of a hindrance than an aid, according
to coach Pam Parsons.
"Rita hasn't been able to utilize
IT ner quickness in the past. I think
t|jp|||j she will this year. Sometimes she
would go faster than she should
have. She now knows when to steal,
flgll I'm really excited about Rita's
improvement," the coach said.
LAST YEAR Johnson began the
HHffi HBj season as a starter at the guard
? P()S'^on along with Cheryl. Autry.
HI jSL Sjf*? As the season progressed, she was
if BpjMEyj beset with injuries that limited her
playing time. She was replaced in
a larger lineup that was used when
jlUjE^S transfer Cynthia Jacobs became
Having regained her starting
berth, Johnson feels she is more
rea'i/e^ on the court and is able to
M ' ' handle pressure from opposing
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perienced," she said. "Some of the
mistakes I made last year I'm not
ring a recent making this year."
for the 11th Parsons' plans for the team this
year include using a pressing
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Russell Pace - GAMECOCK
Freshman guard Sharon Rivers drives past a defender
towards the hoop. The 11th ranked Lady Gamecocks downed
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nson ignites team
defense and fast break offense. "It Montclair State on January 7.
will be Rita's job to work with Johnson said her family was imCheryl
to accomplish that goal. We pressed with the game. "I knew
olrn O; 4 .. t -tr r .
ai.iu nccvi ivud lu score on ine iasi mey were going to be there, and 1
break," Parsons explained. wanted to play well," she said. "1
Johnson agrees with Parsons on had a good game offensively, and
her role with the team. "I think my defensively."
role is to get the team moving on
offense, set the tempo and control IT WAS A real break that Par
the point guard on the other team," sons got the chance to coach
she said. Johnson. "I wasn't very heavily
recruited in high school. Pam
ANOTHER PROBLEM for Baccus, who was the USC coach at
Johnson in thf* nnst hac ho*?r? -~i ? * * '
- ,,, ? iivi null nine, jjnuiicu me ana ioin me
shooting. "I never have been much Parsons was going to be the new
of a shooter, but I worked on it this coach. She said she couldn't
summer, and I think it's improved, promise me a scholarship, but
I don't think people will be able to there would be a tryout. I came to
lay off me this year, which should the tryout in March of '77,"
help the big girls and also help my Johnson said.
driving, which is what I like to do," "I didn't really know where she
Johnson said. would stack up when I got here. All
Although Parsons agrees that 1 knew was everyone said she was
Johnson's shootine has imnrnupH - -
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she thinks her biggest im- Carolina,' I Arsons said. "The
provement has been in another thing that 1 liked was she really
area. "Rita is more stable and showed an interest in USC."
mature. She now has direction," Johnson proved her highly
Parsons said. "She has learned touted defensive abilities in last
that the guards are the givers and weekend's game with Auburn
it is their job to get the ball to the University. A quick steal in the
person in the best position to first minutes of the game and a
SCOre." fast hroak lnvnr? cot
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Johnson said she spent the USC's romp over a young Auburn
summer playing basketball with team. Auburn's coach Joe Ciampi
guys," because they are quicker cited Johnson as a key to the Lady
and jump better. They make it Gamecocks' victory over the I>ady
harder on me when I am cutting Tigers.
and moving without the ball, which When looking at the statistics of
makes me better," Johnson said. the 1979-80 edition of the Lady
Johnson, who livos u/ifh hor 4 " ? " '
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grandmother in St. Matthews. Johnson with a 20 point average,
played in front of her parents and hut you can believe she will have
relatives for the first time when made a valuable contribution to
the Lady Gamecocks defeated the team's success.