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JO Basket) Women fa< By SEAN RYAN Staff Writer The Lady Gamecock basketball team faces its toughest challenge of the year today when they host Tennessee, ranked second in the nation. The Lady Vols bring a 2-0 conference record and a 9-1 record overall into tonight's contest. The Lady Gamecocks hold a 7-7 record overall, and a 1-3 record in the SEC. USC, coming off a six point loss to Alabama, will be led by junior center Marsha Williams. Williams is averaging 23 points a game and 13 rebounds, both of which lead the SEC. She scored 25 in the loss to Alabama. Williams will be backed by freshman guard Christi Timmons and freshman forward Jenny Randall. Timmons is averaging 11 points and four assists per games and is shooting 31 percent from the three point line. Randall is scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds per game. Tennessee is led by senior guard Dena Head, who is shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor and averaging 16 points a game. Head is not the only weapon for the Vols. Four starters return from last year's squad that won the women's national title. Sophomore Peggy Evans adds 14.5 points per game, also from the guard position. Who's be By CHAD BRAY Assistant Sports Editor I have one question to ask all you loyal Gamecock fans and students: Why do we not support the women's basketball team like we support the men's team at this university? I realize the women's games are never scheduled at a consistent time, so everyone, can't fit the games into their busy schedules. The starting times for games can range from 2 p.m. on one day to 7:30 p.m. on another. And most people have the misconception that women's games are slow-paced, not physical, lowscoring and boring. Unfortunately, most people are wroi;g. The Lady Gamect cks are statistically as good as or better than our men's team, and they are ranked higher in the Southeastern Conference than the men. They scored 74 points in their outing against Alabama, while the men's team could only muster 63 points against Kentucky and 52 points against Florida. Overall, the women's performance is equal to the men's per formance this season. The women are sinking fewer baskets from the floor tha i the men, but they are shooting v/ith more accuracy than the men from behind the threepoint line (32.2 percent as compared to 32 percent) and from behind the foul line (64.1 percent as compared to 63.9 percent). After 14 games, the women's team has posted statistics comparable to the men's team. The Lady Gamecocks on the average have as many rebounds per game as the men do (39.5 rebounds as compared to 39.9 rebounds per game). They have almost as many assists per game as the men do (13.9 | READ B 100% Cotton M i Only $ jjj M.C. Esch n from $ I $25.00 Off > 1 Jacket I ARMY - NA\ 9 1621 Main St. a ball tea ce AP #2 Tennessee is riding a six-game winning streak that includes road wins over DePaul and Notre Dame. Head, Evans, Vonda Ward, and Dana Johnson are among the leaders in the conference in different categories. Tennessee ranks in the top five in five categories, including team scoring and team rebounding. The Lady Gamecocks' success against the Lady Vols may rely on defense. Tennessee is averaging nearly 85 points a game, while USC is giving up only 60 points a game. Michelle Murray is third in the SEC in blocks, with 1.5 a game, while Chrisli Timmons leads the Gamecocks in steals with 2.4 a game. Both players will be important if USC is to stop the powerful Volunteer attack. Another key for the Lady Gamecocks is protecting the basketball. The team ranks next to last in the conference in turnover margin and " is averaging 21 turnovers a game. y The team especially has shown 4 problems against the full court i press. Much of the load will be on the shoulders of starting guards Timmons and Britanna Canty. They have done a fairly good job of protecting the ball and will need to do this against the Vols. Fi tter? Jeff or assists as compared to 15.9 as- 4; sists), they have more steals per ^ game than the men do (9.21 steals y as compared to 9 steals), and they IK average almost as many points per ijr game as the men do (64.8 points as as compared to 73.3 points). se 1 believe the starting Lady Gamecocks could take on the start- ^ ing Gamecocks and do well, if not Wi win the game. tu For example, take the Lady Gamecocks' center, junior Marsha or Williams. I believe she could beat jn the men's center, senior Jeff Roul- av ston, in a one-on-one game. Roul- ^ ston may have six inches on her so 6-4 frame, but he does not have an the consistent numbers to rival her overall play. or This season Roulston can only rival Williams with his shooting av percentage from the floor (53.7 percent as compared to 48.9 per- sj: cent). But he has only attempted 54 shots while she has attempted an 264 shots. lei Williams has a better free throw shooting percentage (67.7 percent he as compared to 60 percent), she Sa averages more rebounds per game wj (12.6 rebounds as compared to 4.5 rebounds), and she averages more m; points per game (22.9 points as te; compared to 5.58 points) than wl Roulston. tei I think she could eat Roulston jj-,, for lunch. In fact, she could give the SEC's 7-1 nightmare Saquille So O'Neal a run for his money with El the numbers she has posted this sk season. m< Senior guard Jo Jo English in might have to look for a new line po of work after he tangles with freshman forwards Jenny Randall ou and Christi Timmons. tei Randall and Timmons are both th< shooting close to or better than En- in glish from the floor (40.4 percent and 36.7 percent as compared to sh Mm this "'ri exican Bajas... @ ;12-95 0 if T-shirts... H 1195 H \ny Leather 0 in Stock jjj 1 3 /Y STORE | 252-1350 I IkiL dl Aliahi JL Sports 1G a m c c o c k ms host tough I u j Hs< HmmF jvj|^^^^HH^HMx ^yjj^B I IK Ipp^1 ^ Jl ^ mm ] le photo IVTorcViQ iViarsnd BksklgGamm 2.5 percent) from behind the ,? :ree-point line (45.0 percent and TlX? VJldiFXl&CO 3.0 percent as compared to 35.2 ;y - , f/p& ,,, ;ree.ntl and from behind the foul jj Could the Women lake.oh le (78.3 percent and 77.8 percent compared to 61.0 percent) this ImnhIMMMIK I watched Timmons make four . -12 ' ' I ree-pointers from NBA range WOflteft 14 * 7 ithout even jumping during Sa- % - . , rday's game versus Alabama. I would worry if I was English Field goals any outer member or tne start g Gamecock squad. Randall is 48,6% eraging more points per game :* 41.2% an senior guard Barry Manning, phomore forward Jamie Watson Fr@g thfOWS d Roulston. Joe Rhett and English are the | j. .63.9^ ily players on the starting squad iliiihHIHHBHHHHi 64 1 ie does not outscore on the ^?ge: , - , Personal fouls The Lady Gamecocks are con stently better than our men's 111 II am. I think every Gamecock fan -9| d every USC student should atid their games. Blocks The crowd at the last women's ' , - J " ime game was a dismal showing. | [ 70 iturday, USC played Alabama ith 868 people in attendance. Of ose 868 people in attendance, a ajority of the fans were women's ams from various high schools ]' | id"! to had been invited to see the intsily of women's basketball on t college level. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, That is a sad showing. This sea- Carolina Coliseum. Walk in, sit n we have started play in the down Front (I promise I will save ite Conference for Women's Ba- you get: a good seat) and pay close etball," the SEC. Five SEC wo- attentio n. ;n's teams are currently ranked The Lady Gamecocks will be the Associated Press' Top 25 taking on the Lady Volunteers 11- from Tennessee, last year's naI think it is a crying shame for tional clliampion in women's bar fans to neglect one of our sketball. I promise it will be a ims that can consistently rank in g00(j game. ; top of the SEC and the nation as an added bonus, you can stay the future. and Watoh the men's team take on Around 5 p.m. today, take a the Tennessee Volunteers at 7:30 ort walk or drive down to the p.m. $50 MINIMUM EACH I DONATION t r I * i T -r i iourpiasrna is rleeaea y you nave or recently have had any of the? following I infections!!! 1) Mononucleosis 2) Strep Throat 3) Chickenpox or Shingles 4) Measles 5) Mumps 6) Chlymidia or Herpes imust be free of other STD's) C jL | 2719 Middle burg Dr.. I M I Suite 105 S Columbia, SG 29204 Seroii>gicak (803)254-6537 Volunte Gamecock at first SE( By BEN BREAZEALE Sports Editor The men's basketball team plays host to the Tennessee Volunteers tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Carolina Coliseum. The Volunteers bring a tough men's team to town with an overall record of 9-4 and a 2-0 record in the Southeastern Conference. They will be led by junior guard Allan Houston who is averaging 21.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Houston was named the 1991 SEC tournament MVP after averaging 24.5 points to lead the Volunteers to the title game. Jo Jo English and Joe Rhett will pace the Gamecocks, both averaging close to 18 points a game and 4.8 and 9.4 rebounds respectively. An important factor for the Gamecocks tonight will be English's performance. In the last seven games he has shot 7 for 27 from three-point range (25 percent), well off last season's average of 42 percent from three-point range. English tied his season low af seven points in the last game against Vanderbilt. Rhett had a good game against Vanderbilt, scoring 22 points and adding eight rebounds. Junior Troy McKoy also played well in that jocks vs. IFj cks jt, pi- - c UA 0-3 1~3 " ' omi Three-poii Rebounds _ Total Polr I ' 122z hhihhi Steals Turnovers ? . ? Have Y< in Wh Write& The Gamecock is havinj one who would like to paper this semester. January 20 Russell House You can do on following: Guest Editorials Investigative Repoi Beat Reporting (gr< sports, entertair Election Watch '92 All students and majors involved and make a c voice your opinion, u your schedule. One artic It's Your N< Wednesday, January 15, 1992 ers s get shot 2 victory game with 17 points and 5 rebounds to his credit. The Gamecocks are looking to win their first conference game since becoming a member of the SEC. The men are 0-3 in the SEC, losing to Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Their last game was lost in the final minutes against Vanderbilt, 79-75, after leading at the half. In that game they shot 51.8 percent from the floor and 78.6 percent from the free throw line. The Volunteers last game was Saturday, a 78-76 win over Georgia. In that game Houston scored 26, and junior guard Lang Wiseman added 18. Junior forward Corey Allen led the Volunteers with eight rebounds in that game. The Volunteers return three starters from last year's team, a team that went 12-22 overall and tied for eighth in the SEC with a 3-15 record in the conference. Houston and Wiseman are both returning starters along with 6-7 junior forward Carlus Groves. This is the third year for head coach Wade Houston at Tennessee. This is his first head coaching position, and his career record there is now 37 wins and 40 losses. The Volunteers lead the overall series in games against the Gamecocks 10-4. ' Mm Womerc . J" V' iters 32.0% > - * - ?i . > :... . ?$&' '/ its IS; ~1 m HHBHHkH 907 "1 108 295 ' < \ 193 295 ^p::| iriVMiivrriri'rrri'''''''1*1*'n 11 H m???''1 *?*?*?*????*riiiiiiiiiii yrrrrriy^ Ryan Sims / The Gamecock >ur Say j at We I Cover! J I a meeting for every1 write for the news7:30pm ^ - Room 321 e of the rting 3eks, minority affairs, Lment and more) 4 4 4 i are encouraged to get iifference. Don't just irite it. Work around le or 20. f , * l jwspaper.