McMillan Scores 19, But Spartans Fall To Preseason Favorite FGCU
12/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2009
FORT MYERS, Fla. - It's not often, but sometimes a game just comes down to making shots. Unfortunately for the USC Upstate women's basketball team, Florida Gulf Coast University hit 45 percent of its field goals and 19 free throws while USC Upstate hit 35 percent from the field and 14 free throws, helping the preseason Atlantic Sun Conference favorites to a 71-56 win over the Spartans on Saturday at Alico Arena.
The Spartans (5-5 overall, 0-2 A-Sun) outrebounded the Eagles (5-3 overall, 2-0 A-Sun), 37-32, and the Eagles forced three more Spartan turnovers, marking a remarkably even game. Upstate was whistled for six more fouls.
"I thought coming off a loss, our effort was there," USC Upstate head coach Tammy George said. "We played really hard. If you take away the first five minutes where we fell down 11-0, I think we played them pretty even. You can't spot a good team like that 11 points. They are too good, but I thought their effort was very good."
The Spartans got a game-high 19 points from junior Chelsea McMillan (East Gadsden, Fla./Santa Fe C.C.), who also added nine rebounds and three steals. Freshman Tee'Ara Copney (Asheville, N.C./T.C. Roberson) added 10 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds and two assists. Senior Koko Richardson (Mary Esther, Fla./Santa Fe C.C.) added eight points and three rebounds and freshman Lauren McRoberts (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) added six points, eight rebounds and two steals.
The Eagles took an early 11-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and never let Upstate back within eight points after a 3-pointer from Chelsea Lyles. The 2008-09 A-Sun regular season champs then used a 9-0 run in the last four minutes of the half to take an 18-point lead at 38-20. Two free throws from Richardson ended the run with 1:31 left in the half and sent FGCU to the locker room with a 16-point advantage.
Upstate worked to cut into the half for much of the first nine minutes of the second stanza, going on a 17-9 run led by six points from McMillan and four from Copney during the run to cut the lead to 47-39.Upstate drew back within eight three more times and within nine twice after that, as Courtney Chihil hit a 3-pointer with 7:52 left on a broken play that helped keep the Spartans at a distance. Chihil hit the last of her 3-pointers with 5:16 left to end a 7-0 FGCU run that gave FGCU a 63-47 lead. Upstate couldn't get back within 14 after that.
The Eagles had four players in double figures as Chihil finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. She also added four assists and six steals. Lyles added 16 points and three assists, Eglah Griffin posted 14 points and three rebounds and Adrianne McNally finished with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Shannon Murphy also added eight points, five assists and five steals.
The Spartans will have an 11-day break before finally heading back to the Hodge Center to wrap up their non-conference season with a 3 p.m. game on Wednesday, Dec. 31 against local rival Presbyterian. The Spartans will then get back to the A-Sun slate by hosting Campbell at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2 and ETSU at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4.
Notes:
- The Spartans are 0-4 all-time on Dec. 19.
- Upstate used a different starting five for the first time this season, as freshmen Lauren McRoberts and Tee'Ara Copney replaced junior Chelsea McMillan and senior Koko Richardson in the lineup. Sophomore Kendra Wallace, senior Courtney Hawkins and sophomore Lesley Daniel also started for Upstate.
- Junior Chelsea McMillan is two points from becoming the 33rd player in school history to reach 500 career points.
- Sophomore Kendra Wallace has hit a 3-pointer in nine of 10 games this year.
- Freshman Lauren McRoberts is averaging 9.5 rebounds in her last two games, posting 11 at Stetson and eight at FGCU.
- Freshman Morgan Goss played a career-high 17 minutes, posting a career-high four assists and adding two points.
