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> Carolina BRYAN JOHNSTON Sports Editor t | In USCs race for its first national j championship, men's basketball, / i, a; li j ir?n ? ticieA., buiujciii aiiu gun an }-njp uy as c contenders. v But the one sport getting overlooked is one most people don't even know is here?Women's Equestrian. In its inaugural season as a varsity sport, the Lady Gamecock riders are currently ranked second in their region and are in contention to bring I a title back to Columbia. Coach Janet Brown and her assistant have assembled a strong cast of riders who have had few difficulties adjusting to being promoted to varsity status. "I was on the club level for a year before this and it is a completely different ballgame [this year]," senior Adriana Black said. "We get to do weight training and take two lessons I a week. Everything is wonderful." With being promoted to varsity level, Brown said the expectation level has also risen. "I think that whenever you have a team that's riding varsity, you're always going to expect more out of btL title on the LARRY WILLIAMS Senior Writer ' ^ Nothing has changed for the USC men's basketball team. Having beaten Vanderbilt Wednesday to stake its claim to at least half of the SEC title, it would be understandable for the USC men's basketball team to bask in the glow of victory. If they're satisfied with their considerable accomplishments this season, the Gamecocks aren't telling anyone. Rounding out the regular season, , USC travels to Kentucky Sunday to take on the No. 3 Wildcats, who have ( won their past seven games to push ( their record to 26-3 (12-2 SEC). < University of Sc * SAFE SI * SREAK WE V- >r ' # , * Watch 01 SCHHPI SATURDAY. MARCH 1 0 Into the Street? 10 am to 3 pm ^ an amazing day of community service for USC students, faculty and staff. 0 Registration Deadline: February 25 MONDAY. MARCH 3 ^ Choose to Live: A Fatal DUI Car Crash Reenactment 1 pm - Greene St. (in front of the Russell House) a Police, Fire, EMS and Coroner will all respond to the scene as if this is a real PUI crash. Campus Alcohol Policy ? Workshop ^ 2 pm Russell House Room 301 ibs? w | ^ Nestle ? HAVE A HAPf Funding for this program is made possible by a grant received from t - l Equesl hem," Brown said. USC is a member of the ntercollegiate Horse Show Association. The IHSA promotes ompetition for riders of all skill levels vho compete individually and as earns at regional, zone and national evels. The competitions are unique in hat no rider may ride her own horse. U1 riders are mounted on horses upplied by the host college, each lorse being drawn by lot. Class levels range from walk-trot, or competitors in their first year of iding, to the Open division for the (xperienced rider. In addition to qualifying individual iders for nationals, each region is epresented by its high point college earn for the title of National Champion. As a recognized member of the American Horse Show Association, HSA involves itself with the top )rofessionals in the field. Carolina is in Zone 5, Region II md competes against Georgia, Ulemson, Berry College, Converse, Srskine and Queens. Brown said all of the programs 5 line as Carolii The Wildcats were the Gamecocks' victims on Feb. 4, when the Samecocks proved they belonged in the nation's elite. In a dramatic, 84-79 win over the Wildcats, USC found itself down to UK at halftime, leading by 11 halfway through the second half, and then down by five with just over a minute left. Larry Davis's desperation threepointer pulled USC within two, and then a steal and layup by Melvin IX7*-*4i-irtv* 4-V*/-v /*r?iv\4-/\ /\i imA vvatsuii scut uic gcunc uitu uvcitiiiic, which was McKie's time to shine. McKie scored eight of USC's 10 overtime points to send the Gamecocks to the win and Columbia into ebullient frenzy. >uth Carolina 'RING if IEK1997 ^ ' Harassment Regretted Sex j-t for the "Sh JLE OF E MONDAY. MARCH 3 Happy Hour at the Slatt 5 to & pm - Blatt PE Center Lobby Refreshments & Spring Break freebies for ail! Special B pm Aerobics Class for USC students free of charge. TUESDAY MARCH 4 Carnival on Greene Street & Mega Twister 11 am to 3 pm - Greene St. (in front of the Russell House) Food, Fun, Games, Miniature Golf, Souvenir Buttons, Information Tables, Spring Break Survival Kits ALL FREE! Actual times, dates or events may change due to funding or programmatic decisions. For additional information, please contact the 115C Office of Alcohol & Drug Programs at 777-6686. wwmrw . B EMOJ I ?Y & SAFE SPF *?e US Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Post Sec SPO rian ridi are about equal except for Georgia, who has an excellent program. Currently, the Lady Gamecock Riders are in second place in the region. They trail Georgia by 38 points and lead third place Berry College by 21 points. "We've still got three more competitions to do and anything can happen in them. I do expect to stay in second place if not move up to first," Brown said. Even with their successes, the future for Carolina Equestrian is brighter as a strong class of riders is expected for next year. "The quality of the riders who'll be coming in next year is really going to be coming up from what we have now. We've had a lot of riders that have recruited us this year," Brown said. "We've got 18 riders that are coming to USC next who have recruited us." Carolina Equestrian practices and hosts shows at Softwinds Farm in Lower Richland County. Softwinds Farms has been the home of Carolina Equestrian since 1985. Their next show is Saturday and ia heads to Lex After the game, Pitino praised the Gamecocks but warned that his team would be ready the next time the two teams played. The time has come, and it can't get any bigger. If Carolina falls to Kentucky Sunday, they'll appear in the SEC Tournament as a No. 2 seed. If the Gamecocks win, however, a case can be made that they deserve a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While Kansas and Minnesota's top spots are secure, Duke's and Kentucky's potential No. 1 seeds are shaky. If USC wins Sunday they could get a No. 1 seed. Things have not fared well for the Gamecocks in past trips to Rupp v * *: ^ Roofieo Risks QUI Crashes k ^ ^ Assault 1 * *; Hotel Room Dating Break Ins Violence HARKS!" . iVENTS . WEDNESDAY. MARCH 5 Gamecocks vs. VMI a Baseball Game 3 pm - Sarge Frye Field ? Come cheer on the Gamecock Baseball team. Spring Break freebies (while they 0 last) for all USC students. GAMMA Meeting Topic: En-CARE 0 (Emergency Nurses Cancel Alcohol-Related Emergencies) 4 pm - Russell House Room 303 Refreshments & Spring Break freebies for all! A OFFICE OF - ~ ALCOHOL S^DRUG PROGRAMS 9 TROJANENZ |t Mis(gXINC. lifpfj] 'ING BREAK! inndarv Fdn/-atinn fF!P<=iF^ Dm* and Vin\*nr* PVw*nt.inn FVnaram HTS no* hioli ?& ? Sunday at the Berry College Horse Show in Mount Berry, Ga. Carolina hosts the Regional Finals March 23 at Softwinds Farm. a HHk ^? 1H ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock Lisa Dunwoody and her horse, Hairy, jump over a gate. ington Sunday Arena, as USC has fallen in each trip there during SEC play. Last season, the Gamecocks fell victim to a 30-2 second half run in losing big to the Wildcats. "We just need to make sure we dont get too jacked up, because they'll jack you right down," senior Nate Wilbourne said. The Wildcats will be tougher this game that last time. They have been unstoppable of late, winning their past seven games by an average of 20 points. Those wins include a 37-point win over Villanova and last week's win at Vandy, during which they came from 22 points to take a three point victory. T old! Y Worl Worl We need you! ] Conference I conference o for servicing academic cai gain valuable the summer i up tp 40 houi August 10, 1 For more informati us for an Informati Applications will h c Gamecocks dow, TITLE continued from page 6 cushion that we could rely on." "We came out flat from the start," Vanderbilt coach Jan Van Breda Koff said. "South Carolina was on a' mission and we didn't meet the. challenge." For USC seniors Davis and Nate Wilbourne, it was their last time playing in Frank McGuire Arena. Before the game, both were honored in a pregame ceremony. While Davis picked up two early fouls and never quite got on track, Wilbourne's last home performance was one he could savor, as the Ohio native scored eight points by halftone and tallied 10 for the game. "I just have to take the hat off to my teammates," Wilbourne said. Softball wins thr SOFTBALL continued from page 6 defeated No. 4 Washington, 9-2 and Cal Poly SLO, 2-1. Pietro and freshman Kim Schultze were the producers at the plate against the Lady Huskies, each going 9-fnr_fAiir Johnson picked up another win as she held Washington scoreless. Against Cal Poly SLO, Carolina had four players get a hit in downing No. 19 CPS. In a game that went scoreless for the regulation seven innings, USC scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to match SLCs. In the ninth, USC scored a run to give them the victory. Junior Sky Brown pitched 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball before Johnson entered in the fifth inning. Johnson threw 41/3 innings of hitless, scoreless softball in gaining another victory. Sunday, the Lady Gamecocks ended things early. Scoring five runs in the fourth and three in the fifth, the game against New Mexico was called early because of the "Eight run mercy rule." Senior Ail-American Tina Plew [red of the sai summer JH " our summer, Yoi CHOICE: c May 19 - July 1 c May 19 - Augu It's up to you! Become a confer Assistants are responsible for perations. As a CA, You will the need of sports camps, yc nps and adults groups. In ex< j work experience, get to sta^ it a reduced rate and earn $4. rs per week. Employment rui 997. on about becoming a Confer onal Meeting at the Capstone March 3, 1997 at 5:00 p.m. >e availiable following the mi deadline is March 21, 1997. . ? n Vandy, 74-53 "We've done a great job. Everybody's * accented their mle and everybody's 1 ? ?%/ %/ happy with winning, I'm happy to win." Wilboume said this season, which changed dramatically after USC's. miserable 5-5 start, has been one" he's always dreamed about. "It's kind of overwhelming," Wilbourne said. "It still amazes me how we could make such a dramatic turnaround in such a short period of time." Just what set the stage for the stretch that has produced 17 wins in 18 games and a No. 6 ranking? "As we kept winning, we kept getting that feeling for winning," Wilbourne said. "When you get that feeling, you start getting more confidence, and then winning just keeps coming. If s just a great feeling." ee in Las Vegas was the offensive star as she went 2-for-three with four RBIs. Beers started the game and gave up only two hits in three innings of work. Johnson came in and threw two more innings of hit]ess, scoreless ball in picking up the win. On the season, the Lady Gamecocks stand at 5-2 and ranked No. 6 in the nation. "[The ranking] needs to be kept in perspective," Compton said. "It really doesn't mean a whole heck of . a lot because we as a team know that we've got to perform on the field." Johnson has been dominating on the mound. In five appearances, Johnson (41) has pitched 26 1/3 innings. In those innings, "T.J." has struck out 36 batters, given up only seven hits and one run in acquiring a 0.27 ERA. She threw a perfect game against" North Carolina and a one-hitter against UCLA. The Lady Gamecocks next play this weekend in Columbus, Ga., in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Carolina's next home game is March 12 at 3 p.m. against Furman. me job? ir 10 or st 10 ence Assistant! day-to-day be responsible >uth camps, :hange, you'll / on-campus for .75 per hour for is May 19 ence Assistant, join 5 Campus Room on eeting. Application ^ \?y~* TV * 4