The University of Mississippi Athletics
South Carolina Claims 76-67 Victory Over Ole Miss
1/22/2009 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. Brionna Dickerson scored a career-high 31 points and hit three clutch second half three-pointers as South Carolina recorded a 76-67 upset victory over Ole Miss Thursday evening from Tad Smith Coliseum.
Dickerson surpassed her previous career-high of 27 points she set a season ago against Virginia. She entered Thursday's game averaging just 12.9 points this season and had scored no more than 20 points in any game this season.
Rebel guard Shantell Black turned in a career night of her own as she finished with a career-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Bianca Thomas added 14 points and four rebounds, while Shawn Goff chipped in with 10 points and three blocked shots. Goff needs just eight more rejections to become the school's all-time leader.
South Carolina (9-9, 1-4 SEC) used a 15-5 run over a six minute stretch towards the end of the first half to open up a 30-20 advantage with just under two minutes remaining. The Rebels managed to cut the Gamecock deficit to seven points with 12 seconds left on the clock following a jumper in the lane from Black.
Black's basket proved to be too quick as South Carolina guard Courtney Newton took just a few steps over the half court line and heaved a three-pointer that found its way into the bottom of the net to propel the Gamecocks ahead by 10 points at halftime.
Ole Miss (13-6, 2-2 SEC) opened the second half on fire and quickly erased the halftime deficit with an 11-0 run over the first 2:45 to take a 36-35 lead following a bucket from Black, forcing South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley to use a time out.
The Gamecocks returned to the floor following their timeout and answered with a 10-0 run of their own to quickly regain a nine-point edge. The Rebels trimmed the Gamecock lead to 50-47 with 8:35 left to play as Thomas scored three straight points, but Dickerson answered on the other end with a jumper to put South Carolina back ahead by five points.
After going back-and-forth with South Carolina over the next few minutes, Ole Miss again fought to within three points with just over six minutes remaining on a pair of free throws from Black. The Rebels looked to be in prime position to cut the lead to just a point after Alliesha Easley was fouled by Dickerson to set up a one-and-one situation. Easley failed to convert on the front end and Dickerson made the Rebels pay as she drained a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to put South Carolina ahead by six points.
Black quickly scored for Ole Miss to leave the Rebels trailing by just four points, but Charenee Stephens responded with a basket of her own to put South Carolina back ahead by seven points. After the Rebels missed a jumper on their next play, Dickerson essentially put the game out of reach as she swished another three-pointer to put the Gamecocks ahead by 10 points with just under three minutes to play.
Ole Miss fought to within six points on two different occasions over the final 1:12, but South Carolina went 9-for-10 from three free throw line over the final 2:17 en route to its first conference victory of the season.
The Rebels return to action Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT) when Ole Miss travels to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the Florida Gators.
