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Inside: Schedule Six Gamecock swimmers ranked in Top 25, a Women s 90lf at Gator lnvite' today ■ Softball at Indiana, 2 p.m. track & field readies for SEC Championships a Baseba|| vs Co||ege Qf Chas 3 p m in Arkansas, Mark Piras returns. ■ Softball at South Florida, 6 p.m. ■ Rugby vs. Clemson, 8 p.m. Page 8 1 %\[t (BafflCCOCk Friday, February 25,2000 /• '-•'I ?! ■; * Same old story for Gamecocks Men's basketball team gives up 13-point lead over No. 15 Louisiana State, loses 64-59 Sean Rayford Gamecock Sports Chuck Eidson, 31, flies over LSU’s Collis Temple, 41, during USC’s 64-59 loss to the No. 15 Tigers Wednesday. The Gamecocks play Georgia Saturday at 2 p.m. for their final home game this season. by Shannon Rooke Sports Editor There’s a new trend at Carolina. No, not fashion or language. Not even music. This one involves the losing streak of the men’s basket ball team and how they can’t seem to hold onto a lead when they get one. Eleven losses by eight or less points and eight of those losses to nationally-ranked teams proves the point. This probably explains why no one was surprised when No. 15 Louisiana State came back from a 13-point South Carolina lead to win Wednesday, 64-59. Heading into the second half with a one-point deficit, the Tigers had no idea what was about to hit them. The Gamecocks took off on an 18-6 run, creating what they thought to be a comfortable 45-32 lead. “I was really surprised; I thought we had them,” USC for ward Tony Kitchings said. “Maybe that was it, we thought we had them and then we let up the intensity.” Then came LSU s Tonis Bright. The 6-foot-4 freshman, who had been silent for most of the evening, led his team on a 14-point chaige and sank the field goal to give his team back the lead. Although it wasn’t smooth sailing for the Tigers from there, USC head coach Eddie Fogler stood back and watched as LSU gradually pulled ahead. “I liked the way the tempo went,” Fogler said. “But they got back into it way too quick, that’s what hurt us. They did n’t just chip away at it; they got it from 13 to two or three too fast.” Many factors contributed to the rollercoaster second half performance by the Gamecocks, (11-15,3-10 SEC). But, after looking at the USC’s recent two-game winning streak, the factors seem to have changed. Going into the matchup with a .358 shooting percentage from 3-point range, the Gamecocks ended the night only six of 35 from behind the arc. “You can’t win going six of 35 from the three," Fogler said. "I never dreamed that we would shoot 35, quite honestly." The shooting choices made by his team as a whole were not much better. “There were times when I wasn’t par ticularly happy with our shot selection,” Fogler said. “We settled too much for the three a couple times. I don’t think either team played very well.” With the amount of Gamecock turnovers at a season low, there was something to con sider when the USC players walked off the court with 16. “This team has been exceptional at tak ing care of the ball, which we did not do a good job at today,” Fogler said. One of the biggest themes of USC basketball this season has been the youth of the team and where they will stand. Freshman Chuck Edson has earned a starting position and placed himself at the top of many areas on his team. Usually leading the freshmen in steals and points, Edson was held to a mere two points and four steals. He also totaled an uncharacteristic seven turnovers for the Gamecocks. “Chuck had a poor game which was pretty obvious,” Fogler said. “Give them credit though, their size is a factor with the strong, physical six-four kids.” Edson said it was just a confidence factor. “You know you’re going to have those nights but hopefully there’ll be more nights when you play better,” he said. “I think we’ll come back against Geoigia and play well. “Bright is a lot quicker than he looks. He’s got quick hands and he just caught me off guard sometimes.” Perhaps Kitchings just borrowed the limelight from Ed son for one game. Leading his team with 19 points, Kitchings was also an emotional boost at many key points during the match. “Kitchings was terrific inside,” Fogler said. “But den they went to doubling down on him in the second half which both ered us as well, just another factor.” Kitchings summed up the season and the night’s loss with a frustrated look on his face. “It’s the same old thing,” he said “We get up, then we go down, then we get up, then by the end of the game we’re just fighting to get back into it and miss too many shots.” Carolina opens the door to SEC rival Georgia Saturday at 2 p.m. It will be the last home game for the Gamecocks this season and most of the team is optimistic. “This is a game that I really wanted,” Kitchings said. “I wanted this game more than anything. But now we just have to get focused on Georgia. They manhandled us when we went down there, so now it’s a personal game for me.” Louisiana State 22-4, 9-4 SEC TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS No. FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO B S MIN 02 Brian Besliara, f 0 60 43 414 5136210 22 04 Stromile Swift, f 3 50 05 638 11 0 11 1201 34 52 Jabari Smith, c 4 70 05 656 11 2 13 0502 33 03 Torris Bright, g 6 17 4 10 1 432 51 17 2303 37 43 Lamont Roland, g 4 11 2 53 404 41 13 1303 33 12 Ronald Dupree 0 20 00 000 010020 0 7 21 Jermaine Williams 1 21 22 211 2150001 17 41 Collis Temple 1 30 20 000 0121000 15 54 Brad Bridgewater 0 10 00 000 0100000 2 Team 2 4 6 Totals 19 54 7 23 19 26 15 29 44 9 64 11 18 110 200 South Carolina 11-15, 3-10 SEC TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS No. FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO B S MIN 14 Herbert lee Davis, 1 2 81 50 001 1250021 22 50 Tony Kitdungs, f 8 90 03 441 54 19 2301 26 12 Marius Petravicius, c 3 80 01 213 4170010 22 10 Jamel Bradley, g 3 12 3 12 2 202 21 11 1100 22 31 Chuck Eidson, g 0 70 52 226 8424724 29 00 David Ross 0 40 40 021 3101000 13 05 Aaron Lucas 2 41 20 002 2153301 18 15 Travis Kraft 0 20 20 011 2000200 10 33 Damien Kinloch 1 10 00 024 6220013 25 35 Antonio Grant 3 71 51 100 0481002 13 Team 0 1 1 Totals 22 62 6 35 9 11 12 22 34 20 59 12 16 612 200 Matthews, McMillin lead softball sweep over 49ers by David Cloninger and Elizabeth Rod Gamecock Sports The Lady Gamecock softball team rose above .500 for the first time this season Thursday with two wins over UNC-Charlotte. Pitchers Megan Matthews and Joyce McMillin each threw shutouts, following the pair’s back-to-back no-hitters Sat urday against Georgia State. USC won by a com bined score of 11-0, posting eight runs in the first game and three in the second. USC 8, UNCC 0 USC’s two ace pitchers teamed up for an 8-0 shortened game against the Lady 49ers, but only one of them, appeared on the mound. While Matthews was throwing her second con secutive shutout, teammate McMillin was pro ducing half of the Gamecocks’ offense to lead USC to its third straight victory at Beckham Field. Matthews, a sophomore All-American from Greer, allowed just one hit over six complete in nings while facing 22 batters and striking out sev en. Matthews has now allowed only one hit in her last 13 innings. Meanwhile, McMillin started in right field and registered one putout before stepping up to the plate in the second inning. Freshman Danielle Quinones scored the game’s first run when junior catcher Adrienne Genovese doubled down the left field line. Seniors Kim Schultze and Kendra McCutcheon followed Genovese with two consecutive walks, loading the bases and sending McMillin up to the plate. After working McMillin to a full count, UNCC pitcher Amy Morse grooved a fastball right down the middle. McMillin pfomptly swung and drove the ball to right-center field, barely clearing the fence for a grand slam and a 5-0 lead. “I was swinging the bat well today, I was see ing the ball,” McMillin said. “I had a good day.” A good day might be an understatement for the junior from Melbourne, Fla. McMillin picked up her second win of the season in the second game against the 49ers, pitching seven innings, striking out six while giving up two hits. She also went a combined 2-5 with four RBIs on the day. USC ended the first game by mercy rule in the sixth inning when the Gamecocks scored on a two base error, making the final 8-0. Before that, Quinones hit an RBI single through second and short, scoring sophomore Adrianna Baggetta from third. USC3.UNCC0 McMillin and the Lady Gamecocks started slow in the second game, but were able to stretch rou tine hits into the game’s only runs. Freshman Jodi Fittro led off the fifth inning with a textbook bunt, placing her on first with no oufs. Outfielder Megan Donohoo followed with almost the exact same bunt, putting her at first and advancing Fittro to second. McCutcheon continued the streak with a well-placed single, loading the bases for McMillin. With the stage set yet again, McMillin lined the first pitch she saw toward UNCC shortstop Kiley Scott. Al though McMillin reached base safely, Scott recovered the hit and threw Fittro out at the plate. After a Sondra Hall fly out to second, Baggctta loft ed a high fly ball to right field. The can of corn dropped for a base hit, scoring Donohoo, McCutcheon and McMillin. Baggetta was caught in a rundown between first and second for the in ning’s final out. McMillin was able to retire all but two of the next eight batters, but they would prove to do no damage as USC improved to 5-4 on the season. “I thought we came out in the first game and did pretty well,” said head coach Joyce Comp ton. “The second game I was a little disappointed with the pitch selections, especially with runners on base. But then we scratched and figured a way to win which is the bottom line.” “We just take it one game at a time,” McMillin said. “Megan’s doing a great job throwing the ball. We live with each other and she helps me out and I help her out.” The Gamecocks travel to Tampa, Fla., today to participate in the Gladstone’s Tournament. Car olina will face Indiana and South Florida today, Auburn and Kent State Saturday and No. 6 Michi gan Sunday. The tournament is the start of a 13 game road trip for USC. The Lady Gamecocks don’t return home until March 11 against Hofstra. 2000 USC Softball Statistics (through seven games) G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB Avg. 12 Joyce MeMUlin 7 20 4 10 0 0 2 4 2 .500 33 Megan Donofaoo 7 21 58002 58 .381 18 lodi Flttrc 6 8 2 3 0 0 0 I I .375 21 Adrianm Baggetu 7 18 2 6 0 0 l 3 0 .333 20 Jamie Williams 1 3 110 0 0 0 0 .333 17 Kim Schulte 7 16 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 250 11 Danielle Quinones 7 8 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 .250 1 Kendra MeCutcbeon 7 17 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 2)5 8Sondra Hail 7 19 1 4 2 0 0 1 0 .211 15 Heather Culver 7 17 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 .176 7 Adrienne Genovese . 5 14 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 .143 5 Megan Matthews *2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 22 Dehralee Troesb 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 10 Pam Collins 1 1 0000 0 0 0.000 9 Kate Morrison 3 . 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 4 Kim Evans 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 IP H R ER ERA SO BB W L Sv 12 Joyce McMIllin 8 0 3 3 1 1.12 9 5 2 10 5 Megan Matthews 37.0 20 10 6 1.46 48 11 3 3 0 ^ ^w-v ■ -y ‘ r» Sean Rayford Gamecock Sports Sophomore Megan Matthews hurls a strike during her no-hitter against Georgia State. USC continued their win streak with two wins Thursday.