The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 25, 2000, Page 8, Image 8
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.