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Walvius expects rise from SEC cellar Ladies! hoops looks to turn youth into experience in 2005 Brian Davis FOR THE GAMECOCK Directions are yelped, whistles are frantically blown and charges are willingly taken as USC’s women’s basketball team practices, regrouping from an 8-21 season with a similar squad for the equally challenging campaign ahead. Role players are improved and are more abundant, but the team must fight to keep from staying .at the bottom of the SEC. USC senior shooting guard Lauren Simms is back after a late-season ACL injury. Simms is one of several threats after being the only major offensive presence last season at 9.8 points per game. “We didn’t score all that well from the perimeter last year, that was one of our issues,” coach Susan Walvius said. “Our shooting percentage as a team wasn’t very high because our shot selection wasn’t very good, and we weren’t making open shots.” USC has more experienced players to boost the team from_ last season’s 58 points per contest, 15 less than No. 3 LSU’s average. “Stacy (Booker) is shooting the ball well, Lauren (Simms) is shooting the ball well, Lea (Fabbri) is shooting the ball well and Angela Hunter is really shooting the ball well,” Walvius said. Improved perimeter scorers will look to complement replenished interior strength. Junior forward Iva Sliskovic and sophomore forward Ilona Burgrova will return after averaging only 13.4 points per game last season. Redshirt sophomore forward Lakesha Tolliver and junior forward Melanie Johnson will support the aggressive offensive campaign and another main focus — improving an established defense. “We’ll be able to pressure more teams this year, full-court pressing. We can sub in and out so that people won’t get tired,” Simms said. Opponents averaged only 62 points per game on USC last season, but many national stars remain in the SEC. The Gamecocks will confront Georgia sophomore forward T a s h a Humphrey, 2005 NCAA freshman of the year, and LSU senior guard S e i m o n e A u g u s t u s, 2005 national player of the year. Stopping these athletes and No. 1 Tennessee will be obstacles in the tenured team’s schedule. “We have a lot of experience back this year. We’ve been playing with each other for the last two years, simms said, i think that’s going to pay off this year when we go against those Tennessees and those LSUs.” SEC women’s basketball has set a high standard, and its presence was solidified this year in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coach’s poll with No. 1 Tennessee, No. 3 LSU and No. 5 Georgia. USC finished last in the SEC in 2005, despite three wins to close the regular season. Competing with these national behemoths nightly is the goal. “I think we’ve got a chance 1 1 • 1 LU UC VCiy gUUU 111 LI 1C UCAL LWU years, and I think we’ll be a pretty decent team in the league this year,” Walvius said. After addressing their faults, the Gamecocks are looking to win enough to delete their bottom-dweller status. With only one senior, USC women’s basketball is fighting to become a staple of excellence in the already talent-loaded SEC. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gurm.sc.edu “I think we’ve got a chance to be very good in the next two years.” SUSAN WALVIUS USC women *s basketball coach Juan Bias /THE GAMECOCK USC women’s basketball coach Susan Walvius speaks to the media ealier this fall about her team. AND bony forget abovt ovr great AUCTION of MIKING boots clogs, RAINBOWS AN» trail SHOES! Riverfront access from our great location off Broad River Road! • Sparkling Pool w/ Sundeck • Laundry facility A connections in units! • Outrageously Spacious Walk-in Closets •Fireplaces in all units! •Carwash area on-site! •HUGE Living ares •Your choice of sunroom or deck/screened-in porch Great Roommate Floorplans! Only 10 minutes from campus! Harbison Shopping! -10 mins! 1-20 & 1-26 access instantly! Rates as low as $525! i immsmsma Hamilton Mill on Bentley 100 Bryton Trace Columbia, SC 29210 Phone: 803-772-9409 Fax: 803-731-0861 Email: hamilton@apg-inc.com