RADFORD, Va. – The USC Upstate women's basketball team (0-4) fell to Radford (3-0) today 85-52.

The Spartans' struggled to get their shots to fall in the first half, putting up 12 points (16.7 percent) compared to the Highlanders' 26 (41.4 percent). Upstate came back in the second stanza shooting 35.3 percent for 40 points. However, the Spartans couldn't overcome Radford's 40 second-half points. The Highlanders shot 65.7 percent in the second stint. 

Upstate was led by junior Tee'Ara Copney (Asheville, N.C.) with 19 points, marking her fourth-straight double-digit scoring performance to average 14.8 points per contest this season. Copney also grabbed four rebounds. Sophomore Madisen Webb (Georgetown, Ky.) was second on the squad with 10 points, while snagging six rebounds.

Junior Lauren McRoberts (Carmel, Ind.) posted a team-high nine boards for the Spartans, while junior Tyra Smith (Lawrenceville, Ga.) contributed eight points, three assists and two rebounds. Smith swiped a game-high four steals, while Copney tallied three steals.

Upstate freshman Briana Robinson (Columbia, S.C.) recorded six points and dished out three assists, while junior Hannah Ohl (Danville, Ind.) had six points, two rebounds and one assist. Sophomore Kim Roach (Columbia, S.C.) collected five rebounds and tallied two points.

Radford was led by Victoria Hamilton and Da'Naria Erwin Spence with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Katherine Brockett tallied 12 points, while Ayana Avery helped the Highlander offense with 10. Hamilton and Jordynn Gaymon registered a team-high of six rebounds each. Erwin Spence handed out a game-high six assists.

Upstate shot 26.6 percent, including 16.7 percent from three-point range, while Radford was 54.7 percent from the floor and 33.3 from behind the arc. The Spartans were 65.2 from the charity stripe, compared to the Highlanders' 76.9 percent. RU won the battle of the boards, totaling 44 rebounds, while Upstate had 36. Radford turned the ball over 17 times, while the Spartans gave the ball away 19 times. This was the third meeting between Radford and Upstate. The Highlanders hold a 2-1 advantage in the series.

The 0-4 start marks the first time the Spartans have dropped their first four contests of the season since the 2001-02 campaign, when they started the year 0-7. That season Upstate opened the season with a 72-67 loss to North Greenville Nov. 16, 2001. In the season-opener, the Spartans dropped a 75-57 decision to the Crusaders at the Hodge Center Nov. 11. This is the first time under head coach Tammy George that the Spartans have posted a 0-3 record to start the season.

After a three-game road swing, Upstate returns to action Monday, Nov. 21, hosting Norfolk State for a 7 p.m. tip-off in the Hodge Center. Follow the Spartans this season on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.