Feb. 21, 2009

Final Stats

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - A layup in the paint by freshman Chelsey Peterson (Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork) with 2:51 left tied the game at 55 for the USC Upstate women's basketball game, but a jumper by Amanda O'Neill a minute later helped Campbell go on a deciding 7-0 run and hang on for a 62-58 win at the Pope Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon in Atlantic Sun Conference action. The game was televised on Comcast Sports South, the first Spartan women's game ever on TV.

Peterson got a pass from sophomore Chelsea McMillan (Quincy, Fla./Santa Fe C.C.) to tie the score with 2:51 left and the Spartans (11-15 overall, 6-11 A-Sun) had a chance to tie the game after a block by junior Kolesia Richardson (Mary Esther, Fla./Santa Fe C.C.), but a Spartan jumper fell short. The Camels responded with O'Neill's jumper. A turnover by the Spartans was followed by a foul and the Camels' Lauren Arthur converted one of two free throws. Another of Upstate's 25 turnovers led to another Spartan foul and once again Arthur hit one more free throw to make the score 59-54 with 56 seconds left.

The Camels (11-16 overall, 4-14 A-Sun) got three more free throws to take a 62-55 lead with five seconds left before Richardson hit a 3-pointer as time expired to make the final score 62-58.

Junior Courtney Hawkins (Greer, S.C./Greer) scored 17 points in another fine performance against the Camels, as the 5-4 Spartan added seven free throws, three steals, three assists and three rebounds. In four games in her career against Campbell, Hawkins has averaged 24.3 points.

The Spartans got out to a quick start, as a layup in the paint by McMillan and a 3-pointer from freshman Lesley Daniel (Collinwood, Tenn./Collinwood) gave Upstate a 7-2 lead with 16:09 left. The Camels fought right back with nine straight points, capped by seven from Geami Britt to take an 11-7 lead with 12:50 left. The Camels extended the lead to 10 points with six more straight points capped by a jumper from Ashley Williamson that made it 21-11 with 6:09 left.

A jumper from senior Cherale Powell (Wilkesboro, N.C./Wilkes C.C.) started an 8-0 run that lasted the next 3:30, cutting the lead to two points at 21-19. Two free throws from Hawkins, a layup from Daniel and two free throws from Richardson helped finish the run. A free throw from Williamson made it a three-point game and then Daniel hit a jumper to cut the lead to one point at 22-21.

The Camels hit four straight free throws, but the Spartans responded with four more free throws, the last pair by Hawkins to cut the lead to one. A Williamson layup helped the Camels take a 28-25 lead into the locker room.

The Camels extended the lead to four points early in the second half, but a 3-pointer from freshman Kendra Wallace (Hurricane, W.Va./Nitro) brought it back to a one-point game and an old-fashioned three-point play by Hawkins gave the Spartans a 35-33 lead with 15:47 left. The Camels countered, though, with a 3-pointer from Ashley Smithberger.

The teams fought back and forth for much of the next five minutes until Gara Bell hit a layup and converted the three-point play with a free throw to take a 48-43 lead with 9:38 left. The Spartans cut the lead to a point after a jumper by Peterson made it 48-47, but another Camel 3-pointer helped keep it a four-point game.

With the score 53-49, Hawkins hit a free throw then converted on another old-fashioned 3-point play to tie the game at 53 with 5:44 left. Each team hit a basket, setting up the final Camels' run.

Hampered by 25 turnovers, the Spartans allowed 22 points off turnover, but had a successful game in the paint, scoring 30 points. Richardson posted 15 points and four rebounds, Daniel added nine points and three rebounds and McMillan added six points and eight boards. Peterson posted six points, five rebounds and two steals.

Williamson led the Camels with 14 points and five rebounds, O'Neill added 11 points, six rebounds and three assists and Britt added 10 points and two assists. Lynisha Ochogu posted 11 points and four steals.

The Spartans wrap up the year with three home games in the next six days, starting with the team's PinkZone game on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Hodge Center before Mercer and Kennesaw State head to the Hodge Center for Thursday and Saturday doubleheaders.

Notes
- Upstate used its NCAA Division I-leading 19th different starting lineup of the season.
- Freshman Kendra Wallace hit one 3-pointer, marking the 23rd game this season that she canned at least one trey.
- Sophomore Chelsea McMillan posted one blocked shot, giving her 38 on the season and moving her into a tie for fifth in Upstate's single-season record book.
- Upstate's junior class of two players (Courtney Hawkins and Kolesia Richardson) posted 32 of the team's 58 points.
- Upstate is 6-8 all-time on Feb. 21 ... They are 0-2 all-time at Campbell and 0-1 in the Pope Convocation Center ... They are 1-3 all-time against the Camels.