Lady Tigers Fall To South Carolina, 72-58

Nov. 22, 2002

COLUMBIA, SC – Jocelyn Penn and Cristina Ciocan both scored 23 points in leading South Carolina to a 72-58 win over Clemson in a women’s intercollegiate basketball game at the Carolina Center in Columbia, SC Friday night.

It was the season opener for both teams. Clemson was led in scoring by Chrissy Floyd and Lakeia Stokes as both players had 13 points. Freshman Khaili Sanders had 12 points for the Lady Tigers.

This was the first time since the 1994-95 season that the Gamecocks have defeated Clemson in women’s basketball as the Lady Tigers have won the last seven consecutive games over South Carolina.

South Carolina shot 25-54 from the field for a .463 mark, while Clemson was 24-62 from the floor for a .387 figure.

Clemson won the battle of the boards 39-34. Clemson was led in rebounding by freshman Khaili Sanders with nine boards. Petra Ujheyli led the Gamecocks with 12 rebounds.

In the first half, South Carolina broke away from a 5-5 tie at the 17:10 mark and went on a 16-1 run and took a 21-6 lead with 11:13 on the clock as Penn scored seven points in this run. However, Clemson went on a 18-11 rally and narrowed South Carolina’s lead to eight, 32-24 with :54 seconds remaining. The Gamecocks scored the next four points and took a 36-24 lead into the lockerroom.

In the second half, Clemson came within seven points of the Gamecock lead, 46-39 with 13:18 remaining. From this point, South Carolina built its largest lead of the game, 18 points (59-41) with 9:49 left in the contest.

Cristina Ciocan scored six points in this run.

The Lady Tigers came within nine points of the lead, 61-52 with 6:05 left as Amanda White underneath.

“I give credit to South Carolina,” said Clemson Head Coach Jim Davis. “They were more prepared than we were. Cristina Ciocan is a tremendous player and Penn is a tremendous athlete. The team with the most layups usually wins the games, and South Carolina had the most layups tonight. South Carolina was very prepared and did a great job.”

Clemson will play host to Grambling on Tuesday, November 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Center of Anderson, SC in the Lady Tigers’ next action.