South Carolina Fans Accused Of Using Racial Slurs, Spitting On Missouri Women's Basketball Players
COLUMBIA, SC - SEPTEMBER 14: Fans of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
The Missouri-South Carolina women's basketball rivalry has gotten ugly over the last few years.
The two teams met up for the second time on Sunday. Missouri hosted South Carolina on January 7, and won that game 83-74.
South Carolina won its home game Sunday, 64-54. According to Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk, things got ugly in the stands at Colonial Life Arena.
He told a local radio station that Tiger players were spit on and called the N-word during the game. CollegeBasketballTalk transcribed Sterk's appearance on KTGR's The Big Show:
"It wasn’t a great atmosphere,” Sterk, who was sitting courtside, said of the game during an interview with a local radio outlet in Missouri. “It was really kind of unhealthy, if you will. We had players spit on, and called the N-word, and things like that. It was not a good environment and unfortunately, I think coach Staley promoted that kind of atmosphere, and it’s unfortunate that she felt she had to do that.”
Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton alluded to similar things after the game. It is important to note that South Carolina says it has looked into the matter, and there is no confirmation that those things occured.
South Carolina Ray Tanner addressed the accusations after the game. From his statement:
“Upon hearing the accusations regarding our crowd’s behavior towards the Missouri team, the athletics department conducted a review of our operations from the game, including interviews with staff and security personnel,” he said. “In this review, we received no confirmation of the alleged behavior directed at the visiting team by fans at the game.”
This women's basketball series is becoming known for heated moments on the court. The Tigers appeared to get away with some very physical play during the January 7 play.
This weekend's game at Carolina featured a dust-up as well. Gamecocks forward Alexis Jennings and Tigers forward Kayla Michael got into it after going for a loose ball.
The dust-up resulted in two Mizzou players being ejected for leaving the bench. Players from each team were also assessed technical fouls.
These two teams won't meet again, unless it comes in the SEC Tournament. South Carolina (18-3, 7-2) is currently third in the league, while Mizzou (17-4, 5-3) is fifth.
Hopefully if these two meet again, the intensity stays on the court. The allegations against Gamecocks fans have not been verified, but obviously there is no excuse for anything like that going down in the stands at a game.
