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Lady Gamec third place in oy Michelle Burchette CJ?trt?cock Staff Writer MOUNT PLEASANT, Mlch.-Demonstrating the capabilities of a total team effort, the Lady Gamecocks called on their starters and their bench to help boost them to a 77-69 victory over Louisianna Tech in the consolation round of the AIAW Division I National Basketball Tournament. Claiming third place in the tournament, Carolina established a 30-6 overall record and ended their season in the top two percent of women's basketball teams in the nation. According the USC Coach Pam Parsons, the key to Kn itnmA ??? 1 J 11 ***' * * ' * n.v game wa? icdiuwuiK anu uepin. i ne inira-year Carolina coach believes that having twelve capable players to chose from is what helped bring the Lady Gamecocks to national prominence. ' We've played the bench all season," she said. "Whatever five are ready will play. The people in South Carolina love it." WHILE PEOPLE SAY experience is what makes a national power, Carolina proved that sometimes experience is not as important as the quickness and fresh style of play brought on by the freshmen of the squad. Benching Evelyn Johnson, Cheryl Autry, Suzanne Woolston, Rita Johnson, and Cynthia Jacobs late in (hp firct half tVio it fWlfk fono <> fanJrol Minhirton ???v * ? uv nuuf vitv U|vw JiU> 10 u v wuvi ai mivuigaii University watched Carolina's freshmen take control. Parsons used Sharon Rivers, Pat Dufficy, Becky Parker, and walk-on Cindy Rawl to spark her team to a 34-24 half time lead. Parsons felt that Rivers, who turned in exceptional performances in both tournament games, was a major factor in the Lady Gamecocks' success in the AIAW national tournament. "Sharon Rivers helped us tremendously," Parsons commented. "As a freshman she has not been a dominant point guard, but Sharon has made the difference in our team here in this tournament." In the second half, Parsons played her more ex perienced players while Continuing to substitute freely from the bench. USING RITA JOHNSON to control Tech's quick point guard, Jennifer White, the Lady Gamecocks once again gained defensive control. Shelia Foster and Evelyn Johnson also dominated the boards to help Carolina maintain the lead. ? Mr-^*73ajgMaB Ki aliiiiSMiii89w ?1|; * ^^H|^B>'~,l?v:-:-^'V'_ -"rv'vf-.--?;ttL^ -" sS w^V;' " - !.''. jj: .'" j^ggaak. =x< :. >. .?: '$ /r.ffil^Mga ^ - gy^iKgN^^jgEiT:- ^ .' - |M^M ,' | i | ", ljj v.^Jr1 '4s^^.i^ii^R^: ^g_r" Bfcv.. ' ,"'. ^C HP ^lIP? < . ^1 ^ r USC's Mark Boatwright is tagged out at he Gamecocks' 4-3 victory over the Bobcats c team faces their toughest challenge so tor thi 'ocks capture i AIAWfinals "South Carolina did an excellent job," Tech head . coach Sonja Hogg said. "South Carolina was very 1 aggressive and hit the boards extremely well. That's what killed us in the first half. We had to go to man to man to hope to come back." The Lady Techsters All-American center Pam Kelly and guard Angela Turner didn't show their strength until the end of the game. Their efforts proved futile, however, as it was too late for them to stage a comeback. ] "We lacked enthusiasm in the first half," Hogg i said. "If we started out with enthusiasm it might have < been a better ballgame." The leading scorer for the I^adv fiamprorks was i freshman Evelyn Johnson with 21 points. Johnson, appearing in front of family and friends from her home town of Lansing, Mich., turned in an excellent second half performance hitting seven of eight free ; throws and scoring 14 points from the field. Foster also turned in a solid performance, grab- ji bing a game-high 13 rebounds and tossing in 18 points ; for USC. i MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOWEVER, Foster controlled the lane preventing Tech from executing their offense and thus forcing them to shoot from the j outside. i Both Carolina and Tech were sent to the con- | solation match following losses to Tennessee and Old j lsuiuiiiiuii respectively, in r riaay s seminnai round, the Lady Gamecocks lost to the Lady Vols 75-72 | despite a last minute effort that brought them within two points. Carolina never led in the game and trailed at one time by as many as 14. With 3:17 left in the game and down by 14, Carolina utilized a full court press to stage a desparation rally which enabled them to pull within two points. But the last-minute effort came too late in the game as the Lady Vols capitalized on a missed basket and a foul to secure the victory. we were a aime taie ana a aonar snort all nignt," Parsons said. "We put the press on one time out too late. We had a chance if we had used it later, but that's my job on the bench. You can't blame the girls if I don't tell them." As the Lady Gamecocks look to next year, they will leave Mount Pleasant proud to have placed third in the national tournament, according to Parsons. "We would take fourth and go home happj. We would take third and go home happy, and we're going home very happy," Parsons concluded. y^gMlM ^ .-. ^ a w* r * ^' l*r r^hB^bHBHH^H^^^^^^SBB }h W- ? QiM JI:?:l^P^^Sj?WS^Mi?"] ^ _.- $5 {_ >y,_~~-r \jj'jrf '^r'JJ^l^ v I UAMF.COKK , tme plate by Ohio catcher Pat Miller in the >n Saturday. Tonight Coach June Raines' s year when they play Georgia Southern in :V'^v:.S^x^!?^^:v' ;;'.-y':> ^xV*^ Dave Roback - GAMECOCK Lady Gamecock Shelia Foster pulls down a rebound in a recent game against Tennessee. On Friday night, the Lady Vols defeated the Lady Gamecocks 75-72 in the semi-final round of the AIA W national tournament. USC sweeps Ohio despite sloppy play By Ralph Slice Gamecock Staff Writer The Carolina baseball team overcame their own sloppy play and a determined Ohio University team to sweep a two-game series this past weekend. After topping the Bobcats 7-5 Friday night, the Gamecocks squeaked Out a 4-11 win on S:?InrHa\i thut loft thom ? ? ? ? - ???1 *1?;~ 1 4 ? ? _ ? ..... ? wu.v? v>uj vnut ivii uiviii mui d i.>i? i tvuiu, men ucsi start ever. The ability of the USC bullpen to stymie Ohio rallies and the bat ol Etienne Farquharson were keys in the two wins. Relievers Martin Small and Bobby Kish each pitched outstanding. Small saved the win on Friday night and Kish came on to earn the victory Saturday. "My role is to contribute as much as I can anywhere, anytime, and in any way I can," said Farquharson. Contribute he did as he lashed out five hits and had the game-winning RBI in each game. IN THE 4-3 WIN, Farquharson stroked three hits, including the ganjftwinning double in the seventh inning. Kish limited Ohio to just two hj|s over the final three innings and fanned four to pick up his second win. ? Although the game featured some erratic fielding (nine errors in aft) and sloppy baserunning, there was no shortage of excitement. Freshman Mark falvprt <stnrt#?H th? oama tnw itcp <u? .vvi ...v (,UI1IV 1 "1 L/OV llliu I ll'IU Ult Bobcats to three hits and just one run through the first five innings, & Meanwhile, Ohio catcher Fat Miller proved to be one of USC s biggqjsjt offensive stars. With two outs in the third inning, Farquharson singled He then broke to steal second and cruised into third as Miller's tnrow sailed into center field. Keith Taylor then walked and Hobby Vollmer was sent in to pinch-run. As Vollmer stole second, Miller threw to third in an attempt to catch Farquharson off the bag. The throw was agaih wild, however, and Farquharson scored easily while Vollmer advanced to third base. Vollmer proceeded to score on an error by rightfielder Kei^h Vrotsos: Disaster struck for Calvert in the sixth inning as he surrendered two home runs that tied the game at three. He then struck out Chris Bosch to cool the Bobcats'threat. One and one-half innings later. Rod CarrawaV <imashcH ? double. Farquharson then crunched his third hit to put USCon top. / v IN TltE EIGHTH INNING, Ohio made their last effort to pull out the game. Rick Higdon walked and Denny Wilson followed up with a single. With men at the corners and none out, Kish decided to get down to business. He struck out three straight batters to ensure his second wip of the season. , . ^ . j Coach June Raines was far from pleased with his team's performance. "1 thought we played poorly today. We did some things wl* don't usually do today. We need to get back to being a smart ballculb.j' he said. On Friday night, the Gamecocks overcame another poor effort to secure victory. Errors by Greg Jonson and Rob Lowery led to two of Ohio's first three runs as the visitors forged to a 3-1 lead through five innindc The Carolina attack, limited to just three hits through five innings ' came to life in the sixth, mainly through the work of Jim Curl/ Carraway and Farquharson both walked to star! ^ings off. j^owery then singled to lead the bases. Ohio Pitcher Mark Persson quickly'g<| ' .tmnl* ^Phe nexti>tMr urf went- sattiiiff mm tw fence for a grand slam; his sixth homer of the year. See Baseball, page 11 -v