(MEAC Media Relations) COLUMBIA, S.C. – A quick glance of the numbers from Sunday’s nonconference bout with the No. 1 women’s basketball team in the nation, South Carolina, revels a blowout by any standard, but the Savannah State women’s basketball team have plenty of positive things to take away from 111-49 loss.
At the top of that list is the fact that the Lady Tigers put up more points on the Gamecocks than Clemson (who lost 99-44 to South Carolina), San Diego State (89-38), and Wisconsin (67-44) did this year.
Leading the Lady Tigers was redshirt senior Ezinne Kalu, who put up 18 points, shooting at a 50 percent clip from the field. Jasmine Norman followed Kalu in the stats with 9 points, and also shot 50 percent from the field.
South Carolina – who is ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and USA Today standings – was led by A’ja Wilson who put up a 23 points. Elem Ibiam followed with 21 points, and Alaina Coates added 20 in the lopsided win.
SSU tied their season-high turnover number (20) against South Carolina. They also recorded 20 turnovers against Arkansas.
However, earlier this season against another SEC team, Florida, the Lady Tigers forced 25 turnovers from the Gators, while only committing 8 in the program’s first win against an SEC opponent.
The offensive push, and defensive stance, from South Carolina all but sealed the fate of the game. In the final 6 minutes of the first half, the Lady Tigers managed only 7 points, as South Carolina tacked on 24 more for a 60-22 lead at halftime.
The second half saw South Carolina outscore the Lady Tigers 51-27. SSU committed a season-high 31 personal fouls, sending the Gamecocks to the line 47 times. They were successful 34 times, scoring 30 percent of the days points from the charity strip.
SSU falls to 4-3 on the season. They return to the hardwood against their fourth and final SEC opponent, Auburn University. Tip-off on Dec. 19 in Auburn, Ga. Is s set for 6 p.m.
Heslip paces Howard in loss to LIU Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, NY — Despite redshirt sophomore guard Te’Shya Heslip hovering near a triple-double and four total players scoring in double figures, the Howard womene’s basketball team was unable to capitalize as the Lady Bison dropped an 83-74 decision to the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds on Sunday afternoon at the Steinberg Center.
Heslip finished two rebounds shy of a triple double – a game-high 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Howard (1-9), who remain winless away from DC this season (0-5). Senior forward Cheyenne Brown chipped in 15 points, sophomore forward Sydni Johnson had 14 and sophomore guard Jasmine Hill to log her first game with 10+ points this year.
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