Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Raven Jefferson tied a career-high with 20 points as all five USC Upstate starters finished in double figures in a 69-54 victory over North Florida on Tuesday in the Hodge Center.

Upstate improves to 12-8 overall and 3-2 in Atlantic Sun action while North Florida falls to 6-14 and 2-3.

Jefferson's 20-point output is the second time in her career that she has finished with 20 points and is the first since Jan. 22, 2015 at Florida Gulf Coast. Kristen Dickerson scored 14 points, with Travonda Haddock and Brittany Clency scoring 11 each. Brittany Starling posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Haddock had a game-high four assists.

Claire Ioannidis and Sierra Shepherd each scored 16 points for North Florida. Kadesia Johnson also finished in double figures with 11.

After a Shepherd steal and layup gave the visitors an early lead, Upstate went on an 8-0 run for an 8-2 edge with 6:06 to go in the opening quarter. A Shepherd layup halfway through the quarter cut the Spartan lead to 8-6 before the Upstate used a Jefferson three-pointer and a Haddock jumper to push their lead to 13-6 with 4:17 remaining. Ioannidis hit a three-pointer with just over four minutes remaining to trim the Spartan lead to four before Upstate closed out the quarter on a 5-1 run for an 18-10 edge.

Dickerson sank a pair of free throws to give the Spartans their first double-digit lead of the game, 20-10, with 8:41 to go in the second quarter. After a Starling layup made the score 22-12 in favor of the hosts, the Ospreys used a 5-0 run to pull within five, 22-17. Jefferson pushed the Spartan lead to 29-19 with a three-pointer with 10 seconds to go in the period before Johnson hit a free throw just before the half ended to give the Spartans a 29-20 halftime lead.

Starling opened the third quarter scoring with a layup 14 seconds into the period to give Upstate a 31-20 edge. Upstate led by between six and nine points before an Ioannidis jumper with 4:43 to play brought the Ospreys to within five, 42-37. Following two Jefferson free throws, a Katie Meckus layup brought the visitors back to a five point deficit, 44-39. Upstate went on a 10-1 run for a 54-40 lead capped by a Haddock layup with 1:28 to play in the period. The Spartans led 54-42 at the end of the third quarter as the teams combined for 47 points in the period.

Upstate began the fourth quarter with a Jefferson three-pointer followed by a Dickerson jumper for a game-high 17-point lead, 59-42, with 7:31 remaining. Maiya Rumph brought North Florida to within 13, 61-48, after a jumper with 3:25 remaining. The Spartans pushed their lead back to 17 thanks to Jefferson's free throws with 41 seconds to play. Johnson scored the final points of the contest on a layup with 21 seconds remaining.

The Spartans finished 25-for-58 (43.1%) from the field while North Florida was 20-for-51 (39.2%). Upstate held a 50-23 margin on the glass and a 22-20 edge on points in the paint.

Upstate travels to Lipscomb on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. contest in Allen Arena.

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