Plauderkasten^^ » the 14 days he started a game this season, the Dod

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Alaina Coates thinks she and post partner Aja Wilson have picked up right where they left off -- and thats a bad sign for No. 3 South Carolinas opponents.I pretty much feel like were back to where we were, Coates said.Theyd get no arguments from Maine after the Gamecocks ran off to a 79-42 victory on Monday night in the Basketball Hall of Fame Womens Challenge.The 6-foot-5 Wilson had 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting while 6-4 Coates had 12 points and 14 rebounds. The two did about whatever they wanted most of the way against the undersized, young Black Bears (2-3).Theyre good, Maine coach Richard Barron said. What else can you say?The Gamecocks (3-0) used their defense to make quick work of Maine, starting on a 15-0 run, then outscoring their opponents 13-0 to open the third quarter. South Carolina eventually grew the lead to 41 points in the final period.Freshman Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, at 6-2 the primary post backup for Wilson and Coates, added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and picked up eight boards.South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said when Coates and Wilson play with efficiency and speed, it helps in teaching Herbert Harrigan the right way to play.When she sees our two bigs clicking like that, it kind of becomes contagious, Staley said. She had a pretty good basketball game.The Gamecocks outrebounded Maine 42-27 while Wilson had four of their five blocked shots. Coates swatted away the other.South Carolinas two high-profile transfers, Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray, also finished in double figures with 10 points each. Julie Brosseau had 11 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Black Bears.BIG PICTUREMaine: The Black Bears opened with a surprise win at Purdue, but lost for the third time in the past four games. They dont have the size to match up with teams like No. 7 Mississippi State (a 44-point loss on Nov. 12) or the third-ranked Gamecocks. But Maine, which starts four freshmen, showed off some shooting touch in a 59-43 win over St. Peters on Sunday night. Laia Sole, who scored 16 points in the St. Peters win, was named the American East rookie of the week for the second straight time this season.Whats it like starting four freshmen? Its a little bit better than starting five, Maines Barron said.South Carolina: The Gamecocks wont go wrong going inside this season to Wilson and Coates. Coates had 10 points and 12 rebounds by halftime to collect her second double-double of the season and 44th of her career.POLL IMPLICATIONSSouth Carolina will have one more tune up on Tuesday night before things get serious when it faces No. 4 Louisville on Sunday. Lose that one and count on the Gamecocks to tumble from the top five.YOUNG GAMECOCKSAfter taking its big lead, South Carolina played several young players in the final quarter like Herbert Harrigan, Victoria Patrick, Araion Bradshaw and Tyasha Harris, all freshmen. Staley said the group has to get experience because the Gamecocks have only four juniors or seniors returning with significant experience Wilson, Coates, point guard Bianca Cuevas-Moore and guard Tiffany Davis.We may need the young players at some point this season, Staley said.STREAK ENDERWilson set a school record on Sunday night, going 14 of 14 from the foul line in defeating Hampton 92-38. Could Wilson keep it going? No as she missed her first free throw against Maine and finished 0-2 at the line.UP NEXTMaine takes on Hampton here at the Colonial Life Arena on Tuesday night as part of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Challenge.South Carolina finishes a three-game homestand on Tuesday, facing St. Peters as part of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Challenge. Fake Vans Old Skool . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Cheap Fake Vans . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. http://www.fakevans.com/ . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Fake Vans Slip-on . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Fake Vans Store . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. PHOENIX -- With Clayton Kershaws simulated 60-pitch?game completed Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers will wait to see how their staff ace feels after the session before deciding on their next move.If Kershaw reports no setbacks from the outing on Sunday, the three-time Cy Young Award winner could return to the rotation Thursday at Washington or over the weekend at St. Louis.Kershaw last pitched June 26 at Pittsburgh.?He came away from that start with lower back discomfort, which was diagnosed as a mild disc herniation. He already is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list.I think, as far as Clayton, its one of those things now where if it goes well, figuring out what day we can work him into our rotation, manager Dave Roberts said.Also participating in the same simulated game at Dodger Stadium was fellow left-handed starter Alex Wood, who has been on the DL since May 31 with a left posterior elbow impingement. Wood threw 40 pitches and remains a little further behind schedule than Kershaw.Even without their best pitcher, the Dodgers have gone on one of their best runs of the season. They are 11-4 since the left-handed Kershaw?last pitched in a game, winnning with an improved offense and a lockdown bullpen.ddddddddddddershaws return still remains highly anticipated. On the 14 days he started a game this season, the Dodgers won 12 times. He still leads baseball with a 1.79 ERA and is fourth in strikeouts with 145 despite not pitching in more than two weeks.Roberts said Kershaw pitched at maximum effort in his simulated game and mixed in all of his pitches, throwing to batters brought in from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.There are issues to consider when it comes to Kershaw pitching as early as Thursday. If he faces the Nationals, it would give the Dodgers three consecutive left-handed starters, along with Scott Kazmir and Hyun-Jin Ryu, against the same team. There is also the consideration of having Kershaw fly across the country to make the start.For us and for me, its more of deferring to Clayton, how he feels and his comfort level, Roberts said. Thats a variable. Clayton would obviously have to be comfortable with it. With a guy like Clayton, yeah, you defer to him. Hes earned that. ' ' '