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South Carolina women's basketball: Win one for the 1989 Gamecocks

On3 imageby:Chris Wellbaum•about 12 hours•

ChrisWellbaum

Basketballs with South Carolina football logol (Photo Credit: Katie Dugan | GamecockCentral.com)
Basketballs with South Carolina logo (Photo Credit: Katie Dugan | GamecockCentral.com)

South Carolina opens the NCAA tournament against Tennessee Tech, and believe it or not it’s a revenge game 36 years in the making.

It was March 15, 1989. In the first round of the NCAA tournament, #11 Tennessee Tech upset #6 South Carolina 77-73 in Columbia.

It was a long time ago. The game was played at the Carolina Coliseum, which now serves as the Gamecocks’ practice facility. The teams didn’t even have the same nicknames. Back then, South Carolina was the Lady Gamecocks and Tennesse Tech was the Golden Eaglettes.

#6 South Carolina led by 11 at halftime but faltered down the stretch. #11 Tennessee Tech battled back to tie the game midway through the second half and came away with the win. 

There wasn’t much defense in the game – South Carolina shot 48.3% but was eclipsed by Tennessee Tech’s 50.4%. Tennessee Tech won by dominating the glass 40-29, including 16 offensive rebounds.

The last of those offensive boards was the most important. The game was tied with a minute left, and Tennesse Tech took the lead on a free throw with 20 seconds left. Tennesse Tech got the stop and was fouled again. They missed the free throw but grabbed the rebound to get back to the line and seal the win. 

Beth Hunt, who was first-team All-Metro Conference and the tournament MVP, had a huge game for South Carolina, scoring 31 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. 

Angela Brown, the Ohio Valley tournament MVP, led Tennessee Tech with 23 points. Melinda Clayton, who was All-OVC, had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Tennessee Tech lost to #3 Iowa 77-75 in the second round. It was the golden era (no pun intended) for Tennessee Tech, which won three of its four NCAA tournament games during a four-season span from 1987 through 1990. 

Tennessee Tech also beat Monmouth in a 2023 First Four game. The Golden Eagles have never advanced past the second round of the tournament.

Tennessee Tech will be hard-pressed to pull off another upset. South Carolina is a 42.5-point favorite this time.

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Dawn Staley hasn’t bothered to bring up the potential to make history against Tennessee Tech.

“Child, I didn’t talk about that,” she laughed. “Great history.”

Most of the Gamecocks, who were still 15 years away from being born in 1989, were amused to find out the history with the Golden Eagles. Sakima Walker was (jokingly) emphatic that they won’t let that loss carry over to this season.

“No!” she said, adding to quote her on that.

Tennessee Tech players Anna Walker and Peyton Carter knew about the win but did not seem concerned with trying to keep that streak alive.

“I think last time they played them, it was a whole lot different, so there’s not much that’s the same anymore,” Walker said.

“We’ve seen it, but we have not talked about it,” Carter agreed. 

They might not be talking about it now, but Tenessee Tech will always have 1989.

Special thanks to Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information, for game details.

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