Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Women ready to show that last season was no fluke BY KYLE ALMOND THE GAMECOCK At this year’s SEC Media Days, the USC women’s basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the conference. You’ll have to excuse Carolina head coach Susan Walvius if she gets upset at the lack of respect. “I think it’s a slap in the face to our team a little bit to be picked seventh,” she said. The Gamecocks were chosen near the bottom last season, though, and they proved a lot of people wrong by having one of their best seasons in school history. USC finished 25-7, second in the SEC, and played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 11 years. There, Carolina ad vanced all the way to the Elite Eight be fore losing a close game to Duke, 77-68. It was a banner season for the Gamecocks, who finished ranked sixth in the country. And no matter what the me dia thinks, Walvius believes her team has the ability to do it again. “Our goals are the same as they were ♦ LOOK FOR A PROFILE OF JOCELYN PENN IN FRIDAY’S ISSUE OF THE GAMECOCK. Ji last year,” said Walvius, who was named the SEC Coach of the Year last season and rewarded in the offseason with a new five year contract. “We talked every game last year about competing for a national championship. Our players understand what it takes to be successful at that lev el.” The Gamecocks return three starters from last season’s squad, and those play ers — senior forward Jocelyn Penn, sopho more guard Cristina Ciocan and senior center Petra Ujhely i—will be counted on early in the season to compensate for the loss of Shaun Gortman and Teresa Geter, who both went to the WNBA. “Petra, Jocelyn or Cristina would start for any Division I team in the country,” Walvius said. “Ai;d to have that level of talent, I’m excited.” ♦ WOMEN, SEE PAGE 9 u w nf wfk 1 Better Ingredients, Better Pizza Good Luck Gamecocks. Have a GREAT season! I Family Special | | 1 Large The Works™ , & 1 I 1 Large 2 Topping Pizza | ; i §.99 ; Expires 1/31/03. Not VaHd with any oiner oner, vaiia oniy si participating locations. Customer pays all applicable sates tax. Aocmtonat toppings extra. I I Late Night Sped I 1 Large 1 Topping Pizz I & ' an order of Breadstick ; J)§ Expires 1/31/03. Not VWW with any omer oner, vaira omy at panrcipatirK I locations. Customer pays al appHcat s^.^ S x —seel eafee tax. Aocmionai toppings extra 1% «E _ _ Columbia-USC .. __ Gamer's Ferry St Andrews Assernb,v o, sPrin9 VwmFou 4464 Devine St. 817 St. Andrews ^ b ASSemDIV bt 1008 Two Notch 3959 Platt S Sflg wvmt » wmti wm Keep The Tradition For A Lifetime ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ The Official use Ring Event