gococks3111
01-07-2008, 08:00 AM
Gamecocks get scare as Jones injures knee
Freshman becomes USC’s fourth injured guard in victory against Savannah St.
By CHRIS DEARING - Special to The State
It was a site nobody on the South Carolina sideline wanted to see. Freshman Jordan Jones lay on the Colonial Center floor just in front of the Gamecocks bench clutching her right knee, writhing in pain.
Junior Brionna Dickerson knelt in front of the bench with a towel covering her mouth in disbelief. With the SEC schedule beginning in three days, Jones could be the fourth USC guard to miss time because of various leg injuries.
The 86-47 victory against Savannah State almost became an afterthought.
Dickerson, who led the Gamecocks with 18 points, was hoping for the best but uncertain what to think at the time.
“It was scary but we didn’t want to hope for the worst; we always hope for the best,” Dickerson said. “I really didn’t see anything, all I saw was her on the floor. But everything is going to be OK, and we’re all nursing injuries hoping to get better for SEC play.”
The preliminary report is the injury was not serious, and it could be as minor as a hyperextension. Jones will know after medical tests this week.
The Gamecocks can ill-afford to lose Jones, their leading scorer (12.9 points-per-game average) and the player that has assumed point-guard duties since two guards went out with knee injuries. Jones had 16 points at the time of injury.
USC coach Susan Walvius was not optimistic when she saw Jones go down, but she said she felt better after Jones walked back to the court and joined her teammates.
“We’ve seen it a lot this year and it seems like it’s been one after another after another,” Walvius said. “She (Jones) has become such an integral part of what we do. We’ve changed our system the last three or four weeks to get her more scoring opportunities at the one. To see her hurt herself right in front of us, I can tell I wasn’t feeling very good at that time.”
South Carolina has been without Ashlie Billingslea since she injured her ACL in the preseason and had surgery. Courtney Newton, the starting point guard to begin the season, has not played since Nov. 25 when she injured her knee against Illinois. Dickerson missed four games with a foot injury.
Billingslea could return to action soon; Newton’s return is day-to-day.
Before the injury to Jones occurred with 9:10 remaining, the Gamecocks were able to work on offensive rebounding and a variety of pressure defenses that will be utilized more now that the conference schedule has arrived. USC dominated the boards and had 22 offensive rebounds and a 52-25 advantage overall.
The Gamecocks end the non-conference schedule 11-4, the team’s best record since the 2002-03 team opened the season 13-2 en route to reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament.
“We’ve taken care of business and have a great win over Virginia at home which was good and we’ve played a very tough schedule,” Walvius said. “Now we need to work to get healthy hopefully before we step out on the floor at Alabama. The first season is over.”
http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/277095.html
Freshman becomes USC’s fourth injured guard in victory against Savannah St.
By CHRIS DEARING - Special to The State
It was a site nobody on the South Carolina sideline wanted to see. Freshman Jordan Jones lay on the Colonial Center floor just in front of the Gamecocks bench clutching her right knee, writhing in pain.
Junior Brionna Dickerson knelt in front of the bench with a towel covering her mouth in disbelief. With the SEC schedule beginning in three days, Jones could be the fourth USC guard to miss time because of various leg injuries.
The 86-47 victory against Savannah State almost became an afterthought.
Dickerson, who led the Gamecocks with 18 points, was hoping for the best but uncertain what to think at the time.
“It was scary but we didn’t want to hope for the worst; we always hope for the best,” Dickerson said. “I really didn’t see anything, all I saw was her on the floor. But everything is going to be OK, and we’re all nursing injuries hoping to get better for SEC play.”
The preliminary report is the injury was not serious, and it could be as minor as a hyperextension. Jones will know after medical tests this week.
The Gamecocks can ill-afford to lose Jones, their leading scorer (12.9 points-per-game average) and the player that has assumed point-guard duties since two guards went out with knee injuries. Jones had 16 points at the time of injury.
USC coach Susan Walvius was not optimistic when she saw Jones go down, but she said she felt better after Jones walked back to the court and joined her teammates.
“We’ve seen it a lot this year and it seems like it’s been one after another after another,” Walvius said. “She (Jones) has become such an integral part of what we do. We’ve changed our system the last three or four weeks to get her more scoring opportunities at the one. To see her hurt herself right in front of us, I can tell I wasn’t feeling very good at that time.”
South Carolina has been without Ashlie Billingslea since she injured her ACL in the preseason and had surgery. Courtney Newton, the starting point guard to begin the season, has not played since Nov. 25 when she injured her knee against Illinois. Dickerson missed four games with a foot injury.
Billingslea could return to action soon; Newton’s return is day-to-day.
Before the injury to Jones occurred with 9:10 remaining, the Gamecocks were able to work on offensive rebounding and a variety of pressure defenses that will be utilized more now that the conference schedule has arrived. USC dominated the boards and had 22 offensive rebounds and a 52-25 advantage overall.
The Gamecocks end the non-conference schedule 11-4, the team’s best record since the 2002-03 team opened the season 13-2 en route to reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament.
“We’ve taken care of business and have a great win over Virginia at home which was good and we’ve played a very tough schedule,” Walvius said. “Now we need to work to get healthy hopefully before we step out on the floor at Alabama. The first season is over.”
http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/277095.html