COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Tatyana Troina scored 24 points, Teresa
Geter had 20 points and six blocks and South Carolina defeated its
first ranked team in three years with an 87-60 victory over Auburn (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today; No. 20 Associated Press) on Sunday.
The Gamecocks (6-8) opened the Southeastern Conference 2-0
for the first time in their 10 league seasons. Coach Susan Walvius
had been 1-20 in four years against ranked teams, the only victory
coming Jan. 14, 1998, against Vanderbilt.
But it was Auburn (13-3, 1-1) that looked like the team fighting
for SEC legitimacy. The Tigers, who have lost three of their past
four, shot 20 percent in the second half.
Carol Smith was 2-for-15, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range,
and finished with five points, 10 less than her average.
It was South Carolina's first victory over Auburn in eight games
since Jan. 4, 1994.
Almost everyone who played for the Gamecocks contributed.
Nihan Anaz came off the bench for 16 points. Shaun Gortman had 12
points and 10 assists.
Lori Nero led Auburn with 14 points, while Shana Askew added 12. Auburn entered the game winning by an average margin of 27 points.
South Carolina put the game away in the first half. Troina and
Shannon Segres had 3-pointers during a 19-8 run that left the Gamecocks ahead 32-20 with 7:15 to go.
Gortman hit three 3-pointers during the half as South Carolina
pushed the lead to 14 points. But Tasha Hamilton and Askew each
made two foul shots in the final minute to cut the lead at half to
45-35.
The Gamecocks kept things up in the second half. Geter
blocked Nero's shot then took a pass from Gortman for an easy
inside basket.
When Geter, a transfer from Tennessee, finished a three-point
play with 4:13 to go, the Gamecocks led 77-54.
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Auburn Clubhouse
South Carolina Clubhouse
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