Highlights

Spartanburg, S.C. – Raven Jefferson tied her career-high of 14 points Thursday evening, but USC Upstate was unable to hold off the league-leading Stetson Hatters as it fell 79-66 in Atlantic Sun women's basketball action inside the Hodge Center.

The Spartans' five-game winning streak was halted as they drop to 11-10 overall and 6-4 in the league, while the Hatters improve to 17-5 on the season and 9-1 in conference play.

Jefferson finished the contest connecting on a career-high six field-goals and contributed three rebounds, two steals and one assist. She was one of three Upstate players to finish in double-figures as Brittany Clency added 13 points and Brittany Starling 11. Clency also dished out a career-high nine assists. Valese McAllister pulled down a career-best 16 rebounds and fell just shy of a double-double with eight points. She becomes the first Spartan since Starling last season at Jacksonville to grab 15 or more rebounds in a game.

Upstate jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead in the game's opening minutes after a three-point play by Shelby Hicks. McAllister kept the Spartan lead at 9-6 with 17:33 left, but the Hatters responded with five straight points to take an 11-9 lead on two free-throws by Amber Porter. Upstate stayed with a four-point deficit throughout the opening half and would take the lead back at 24-23 at the 7:02 mark following a layup by McAllister.

Stetson answered with five consecutive points to go ahead 29-27, but Jefferson answered with her three-pointer on the next possession to put the Spartans back to within two. The Hatters compiled a 10-2 run over a 2:58 span to take their largest lead of half at 39-29 on Myeisha Hall's three-pointer. McAllister made it a six-point game with 55 seconds left, but Hall capped off the half with two free-throws to send Stetson into the locker in front 41-33.

Sasha Sims started the second for the Hatters with a jumper to put them ahead 43-33. Jefferson got Upstate to within six at 43-37, but Stetson was able to outscore the Spartans 8-2 over nearly a five-minute span to go in front 51-39. The Hatters increased their lead to 13, 58-45, over two minutes later on a three by Jama Sharp. Stetson was able to hold a double-digit lead until the 8:56 mark when a three by Clency made it 60-52.

Clency's three sparked a quick 9-0 run for Upstate over 2:05 to make it a two-point game with less than seven minutes left. Clency followed her triple with three straight free-throws and Sharmayne Edwards hit a three the next possession to trim the Spartan deficit to 60-58 forcing a Hatter timeout.

Stetson came out of the timeout and logged a 13-2 run during a 2:16 span to put it back ahead by double-figures at 73-60 with 3:32 left. Porter gave the Hatters their largest lead of the game at 79-62 as Upstate was held to one field-goal over the final 5:03.

The Spartans shot 37.5% (24-of-64) as a team while Stetson posted a 45.9% (28-of-61) mark. Upstate finished the game shooting 33.3% (5-of-15) behind the three-point line and 72.2% (13-of-18) at the charity stripe.

Sharp led all players with 19 points for the Hatters, and Porter finished with a double-double on 15 points and 10 rebounds. Hall added 14 points and Cherisse Burris 12.

The Spartans return to action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. as they host Florida Gulf Coast in the Play 4Kay Think Pink game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of the event with proceeds going to The Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

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